Grade 3

Third grade is a critical year in the educational journey. Many describe this year as the time when students end “learning to read” and start “reading to learn.” The goal in third grade is to close educational gaps in students’ reading level. After Grade 3, students can still progress, but existing gaps may never be closed. For this reason, third grade focuses on comprehension and more advanced writing skills. Students begin to look at chapter books with fewer pictures. Mathematically, the concepts of multiplication and division are introduced. Third graders learn many ways to practice their multiplication facts.

Encourage your child to read. Children will learn well by modeling: if they see their parents reading, they will be more likely to read as well. Expose your children to a variety of materials including books, magazines, newspapers and even web sites.

Consult your child’s teacher or NWEA testing report to find out your child’s Lexile score. With this number, you can visit lexile.com and find examples of books that are at the appropriate reading level for your child. Easy books are great to develop fluency, but children should also choose more difficult books to expand their vocabulary and explore harder concepts.