How to Improve a Reading Fluency for a Third Grader

Provide ample reading materials.

A third grader’s reading aptitude directly relates to the child's vocabulary and phonics skills. Since reading is the cornerstone of successful communication and the basis of all writing skills, it’s imperative to work with the student to increase fluency in order to give the child the means to communicate effectively and to comprehend what the child reads. With some time-honored techniques, you can help a third-grader raise her reading fluency level.

Instructions

1. Broaden the student’s reading spectrum to include simple newspaper articles, magazines and books that provide the child with a greater understanding of the world. In third grade, this is not an issue to force; instead, it is to be included in moderation in order to spark a desire for learning about many topics. When the desire to read is present, the child’s reading fluency increases naturally.

2. Practice anticipation reading skills with the student. It’s important to stress comprehension in reading. Some children adapt quickly to the phonic aspect of reading but they do not analyze the subject matter. To improve reading fluency, ask the child to read aloud and pause every few minutes and ask the child to predict what happens next in the story. In this way, the student trains himself to comprehend the story.

3. Provide ample reading materials in the student’s area of interest. Reading is a learned skill and requires lots of practice. When a child is interested in the story, he will read longer and attempt to understand the text better. For a child who resists reading books, this may mean offering comic books if that’s what it takes to get him to read on his own.

4. Help your child master phonics. Phonics refer to the sound of the words. By learning to relate specific sounds with the letters of the alphabet, the child learns to read by sounding out the words. Programs designed to boost your child's understanding of phonics are helpful when you're interested in improving reading comprehension through letter recognition. (See Resources.)

5. Ask the third grader to read aloud. Some students develop a bad habit of skipping over words when reading the text silently. However, when they read aloud, they must pronounce each word. This also gives you the chance to correct pronunciation errors.

6. Increase the child’s vocabulary. A third grader can learn between 20 and 50 new words per week. Often, teachers present these words in the form of a spelling handout on Monday and a spelling test on Friday. Include a multiple-choice quiz along with the spelling test to ensure that the child understands the definition of the words. Get free printable spelling worksheets for your child online. (See Resources.)

7. Read to the student. A third grader may struggle with reading fluency and comprehension but it’s important to instill the joy of reading at this age. By reading to the child, you demonstrate the skill level they can attain with practice.

Tips & Warnings

• Be patient. Children learn to read at their own pace and some children will excel while others need more time and practice. The most helpful thing you can do is to make reading fun and rewarding.

Resources

• Phonics boosters for homeschools or anyone.
• Printable spelling worksheets.