How to Teach Fluency in Third Grade Reading
The best teachers use a variety of methods to teach third graders to read fluently. Some use basal readers (textbooks), and others use trade books. Some teachers teach reading to the whole class at the same time with everyone on the same page. Others teach in small groups, using either the school's adopted textbooks or other reading materials. The most successful way to teach reading fluency at the third grade level is to combine several techniques. Children differ in the way they learn to read. The teacher's job is to try to find how her students learn best. Most third graders are able to read independently to find information. They are able to work together in small groups, reading to solve problems or make group presentations.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Books of different genres and reading levels
- Construction paper for visual aids
- Poster paper for visual aids
- Tape for making visual aids
- Markers
- Crayons
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1
Read to your students every day. Set aside a time, maybe after lunch, each day. Choose great books that rivet the children's attention. Talk to your school's or your town's media specialist to find out which books children are enjoying most. Look online to find lists of award-winning books like the Newbury Medal or Caldecott Medal books. Encourage students to bring short articles and stories to read aloud.
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2
Use the basal readers adopted by the school district to assure that students are exposed to a variety of genres. An advantage to these books is that they present many genres, including fiction, nonfiction, realistic fiction, mysteries, historical fiction and more. Another advantage to using basal readers is that the books present comprehension skills in a sequential, organized manner, ensuring that skills like recognizing cause and effect, main idea and details, making comparisons, identifying fact and opinion are covered.
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3
Assign projects that require reading to groups of 5 or 6 students. Ask them to find and present information about Ancient Egypt, for example. Tell them to appoint 1 member of the group to read the information aloud, another member to record the findings, and another member or members to make the presentation. Have each of the groups in the class make presentations. Ask them to construct dioramas, charts, or other visual aids to use in their presentations.
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4
Develop an independent reading program. Make sure the classroom has a large and varied library. Give the students instructions about how to choose a book and allow them to choose. The teacher should approve each choice, making sure the book is not too easy or too difficult. Involve the class in setting a goal to read a certain number of books during each reporting period. Keep a chart on the wall with each child's name, and spaces for a sticker each time the child completes a book. Allow time for silent independent reading each day. Have conferences with several students each day. Ask them to tell you something about the book they are reading. Check to see whether they are understanding what they read. Record the names of the books, the dates they started and finished the book, and your findings about their comprehension.
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Tips & Warnings
Make reading fun for your students.
Challenge your students to read a variety of genres.
