Third grade is the absolute BEST grade! (My bias as a former third grade teacher may be showing.) In all seriousness, third grade is a time of increasing independence and growing confidence. By third grade, children are expected to transition from learning to read to reading to learn. This means they need to develop fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and critical thinking skills to understand more complex texts. If your third grader struggles with fluency or has difficulty understanding what they read, they may need extra support, grounded in the Science of Reading.
The Science of Reading emphasizes the importance of systematic phonics instruction, vocabulary development, fluency practice, and comprehension strategies to help children become confident, independent readers. Whether your third grader is on track, needs additional support, or maybe requires a challenge, these 10 effective strategies will help them grow and flourish as a reader.
1. Continue Reading Aloud Together
Even though third graders are reading more independently, reading aloud together remains valuable. Hearing fluent reading helps children understand pacing, expression, and pronunciation, while also exposing them to new vocabulary. Regardless of their skill level or claims to the contrary, third graders still benefit from reading with a parent.
Ways to Make Read-Aloud Time More Engaging:
- Choose books that are slightly above your child’s reading level to introduce new words. Many third graders enjoy non-fiction text about sports, art, or other hobbies. Books that have been made into movies like The Chronicles of Narnia are also crowd pleasers.
- Take turns reading paragraphs to model fluency. Have your child decide what a character may sound like and have fun using accents or silly voices.
- Ask questions about the story: “Why do you think the character made that choice?” “What would you do if you were afraid?” Questions like these create connections to their world, as well as other stories.
- Have your child follow along to reinforce word recognition. Some children benefit from using a strip of paper or bookmark to help them track the text on each line. Seeing a page full of text can feel overwhelming, especially if your third grader is struggling, so limiting the text to one line at a time may help them focus.
Reading aloud together strengthens comprehension and makes reading a shared, enjoyable experience.
2. Strengthen Fluency with Repeated Reading
Fluent readers read smoothly, accurately, and with expression. If your child reads word by word or struggles to read at a natural pace, they may need fluency practice.
How to Improve Fluency:
- Encourage rereading familiar books to build confidence. Although you may think a book is easy for your child, they still benefit from re-reading their favorites.
- Use echo reading—you read a sentence, and your child repeats it. If they are ready for more of a challenge, you could read a whole paragraph and then have them re-read it.
- Try choral reading—read aloud together at the same time. Make sure to adjust your pacing to match their natural rate.
Use audiobooks to help children hear fluent reading while following along in a book. Sites like YouTube and Epic may have the author or a famous celebrity reading the book selection. There are many ways to get your third grader excited about reading! - Practice reader’s theater scripts-With a reader’s theater you can take turns playing different characters. You could even make props to make it more like a “real” play.
- Cooper, a third grader that I tutor, has trouble finding genres that interest him. However, when we practice a reader’s theater once a week, he LOVES making up silly accents, deciding what kind of attitude each character will demonstrate, and making me laugh at his creativity!
Repeated reading builds speed, accuracy, and confidence, helping children focus more on comprehension.
3. Expand Vocabulary Through Context Clues
Third graders encounter more complex words in their reading. Instead of relying on memorization, teach your child to use context clues to figure out the meaning of unknown words.
Ways to Build Vocabulary:
- Teach your child to look for clues in surrounding words and sentences. Sometimes it helps to leave a blank for an unfamiliar word, and then they can fill it in after reading the rest of the sentence. This helps them to think about what makes sense in a sentence.
- Practice breaking words into prefixes, root words, and suffixes (e.g., unhappiness = un + happy + ness). Teach them to listen and look for parts of words that they recognize.
- Create a vocabulary journal where your child writes new words and their meanings. One strategy that works well with third grade is to create a four square in the journal. You can put the vocabulary word in one quadrant, write a definition in another, use the new word in a sentence, and illustrate the word in the final section.
A strong vocabulary improves comprehension and helps children feel more confident tackling new texts.
4. Ask Questions to Improve Comprehension
Understanding a story is just as important as being able to read the words. Asking questions while reading helps children think critically and engage with the text. Children that practice this skill with a parent tend to also ask questions while reading independently. If they do not understand what is happening in a text, encourage them to re-read or ask an adult. Likewise, if they have predictions or connections, take time to talk about what is happening in the text.
Questions to Ask While Reading:
- Literal: “What happened in the story?”
- Inferential: “Why do you think the character felt that way?”
- Predictive: “What do you think will happen next?”
Encouraging discussions about books helps children connect with the story and strengthens brain pathways that aid with comprehension and retention.
5. Encourage Independent Reading with High-Interest Books
Children are more motivated to read when they choose books they enjoy. Third grade is a great time to introduce different genres to expand their interests. Although they will probably have a favorite series, encourage them to branch out and read both fiction and non-fiction books. Third graders are generally interested in topics that you also enjoy, so share your favorites from your childhood!
Ways to Encourage Independent Reading:
- Help your child find books that match their interests and reading level.
- Establish a daily independent reading time (20 minutes per day is a good goal for third grade).
- Visit the library together to let your child explore new books. You can also browse an online library option with the Kindle, Hoopla, or Libby apps.
The key is to make reading an enjoyable habit, not a chore.
6. Use Graphic Organizers for Better Understanding
Graphic organizers are visual tools that help children organize their thoughts and understand stories better. Third graders often enjoy writing or drawing pictures about what they are reading. Try using different tools, like a whiteboard and marker, new colored pencils, or chalk on the sidewalk to increase engagement.
Try These Graphic Organizers:
- Story maps to track the beginning, middle, and end of a story. There are many different “fun” organizers available, ranging from ice cream scoops to sandwiches to comic drawing boards!
- Venn diagrams to compare and contrast characters or themes.
- KWL charts (What I Know, Want to Know, Learned) to engage with non-fiction texts. Before you start reading, ask your third grader what they know about the topic and any questions they have. After reading, circle back to fill in a few fun facts they learned from the text.
Using visual aids helps children break down complex information and retain key details.
7. Make Reading Interactive with Discussions and Writing
Talking about books strengthens comprehension and encourages deeper thinking. Writing about books also helps children process what they’ve read. There are many free programs and apps that allow children to “publish” their writing. You could even have a publishing party and invite grandparents and friends to celebrate their writing!
Ways to Make Reading Interactive:
- Have book discussions where your child shares their thoughts on the story.
- Encourage your child to write book reviews or alternate endings. They could sit in a special “author’s chair” or use a microphone to broadcast their ideas. Be creative and see what makes your third grader smile.
- Ask your child to draw scenes from the book to visualize what they read.
- If your child struggles with writing, you could let them record their thoughts with a phone or tablet, or you could scribe for them.
Engaging with books in different ways helps children process and retain what they’ve read.
8. Incorporate Word Games and Puzzles
Reading should be fun! Word games and puzzles make reading practice enjoyable while reinforcing vocabulary and spelling.
Try These Fun Reading Games:
- Scrabble Jr., Boggle, or Wordle to build spelling and vocabulary skills.
- Mad Libs to reinforce grammar and sentence structure.
- Crossword puzzles and word searches to expand word recognition.
Games provide a low-pressure way to reinforce reading skills while keeping kids engaged.
9. Use Reading Apps and Online Tools Wisely
Digital tools can be helpful for reinforcing comprehension and fluency, but they should supplement—not replace—real book reading.
Best Reading Apps for Third Graders:
- Epic! – Digital library with comprehension questions.
- Khan Academy – Personalized reading levels with many book options.
- Starfall – Interactive reading and games. This website is helpful for readers who need phonics reinforcement.
Using a mix of print and digital reading helps children develop different reading skills.
10. Consider an Online Reading Tutor for Extra Support
If your child struggles with fluency, comprehension, or vocabulary, or if your third grader needs a challenge beyond their grade level, an online reading tutor can provide personalized, structured support.
Benefits of an Online Tutor:
- One-on-one instruction tailored to your child’s needs.
- Engaging lessons using evidence-based strategies.
- Flexible scheduling for busy families.
At Savvy Learning, our expert tutors use Science of Reading-based instruction to help third graders build confidence and reading skills.
Final Thoughts
Helping your third grader become a confident, skilled reader doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By incorporating daily reading, fluency practice, writing activities, and fun games, you can create a strong foundation for success.
- Make reading a fun and interactive experience.
- Be patient and supportive—every child learns at their own pace.
- If extra support is needed, consider an online reading tutor for personalized help.
Want expert guidance? Contact Savvy Learning today to learn how our online reading tutors can help your child strengthen fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary!
