The transition from 2nd to 3rd grade has received little notice in education research--yet the authors' experience in elementary school counseling convinced them that most students undergo a seismic shift during this period. Third grade is not only the first year students will encounter standardized end-of-grade tests, but also a year in which students are expected to have mastered basic reading skills and to be able to "read to learn." Developmentally, students' confidence and sense of competence are just emerging. The authors describe practices at one elementary school, where staff members support students through this transition by collaborating, reaching out to targeted students, promoting student strengths, and evaluating school practices.