Reading with Ease: How to Develop Fluency in Third Grade

When starting third grade, children are in a stage where their reading goals shift from learning to read to reading to learn. In order for a student to succeed in retaining any new information from a book, they must develop fluency. Reading fluency is the ability to read a text smoothly, accurately, and with proper expression. It is an important benchmark n a child's education, especially by the time they reach this new stage of reading.

Developing reading fluency is paramount for children as it improves their reading comprehension, boosts their confidence in reading, and fosters a lifelong love for reading. 

Third graders who are fluent in reading, can recognize most words on the go, without a need to stop and decode (sound out) each word. This allows them to not only focus more on the story, but to actually extract new information from the text they are reading. 

On their path to becoming fluent readers, third graders could face a few challenges. Some children might not be excited about reading, especially if they reading out loud makes them nervous and if they struggle with it. Other obstacles may include lack of exposure to many books, language barriers, a learning disability such as dyslexia, or just a poor attention span. Every child comes with their own set of experiences and skills, which means what works for one might not work for another. 

Here we’d like to share some tips and strategies parents and educators alike can use for children in elementary school, especially in third grade, to help them in their journey to reading with ease.

• Turn Reading into a Daily Habit: Just like learning any new skill, practice makes perfect. The more a child reads, the more fluent they'll become. Encourage them to spend time reading by themselves both in the classroom and at home. Timers can help some children that may struggle reading for longer periods of time. Make it a game and encourage them to try and read longer each time. This will help learners build up their stamina  while reading. The longer a child reads, the more fluent they will become. 
  
  
• Create a Rich Reading Environment: Fill your home or classroom with a variety of books. This will expose them to larger vocabularies which in turn will help them become more fluent. As a child sees a word over and over, it becomes easier for them to recognize while reading. They will not have to stop and decode as the word will not be new to them anymore.  When adding books to your library for  third graders, try series like "Magic Tree House '' for adventure lovers or "National Geographic Kids” for young explorers.

• Fun-Filled Reading Worksheets:  Variety is key when trying to help a third grader become fluent. Children can practice reading smaller passages at first, with our fun filled worksheets if they are struggling with longer text. These worksheets are specially crafted to delight young readers.  You can easily grab one online or print them out for practice anytime, anywhere. Below are a few 3rd grade reading worksheets that can help with fluency and reading comprehension. Click on the worksheets to download them or complete online!
  

• Follow the Reader; Echo Reading Together: You can read aloud one on one with your learner, then let them mirror you. This back-and-forth is a fantastic way for them to pick up on how to flow through a story with ease and excitement. Mirroring can help students who may be nervous about reading out loud. They can build up their confidence without having to fully read alone. Echo reading is a great tool for learners who may have a language barrier. They can see and hear exactly how to pronounce new words. You will notice how quickly they can pick up on inflection and tone when it is their turn to read.
  

Echo reading is a great tool for learners who may have a language barrier. They can see and hear exactly how to pronounce new words.

• Choral  Reading Time:Reading doesn't have to be a solo activity.  Sit down with the family or a small group  and read a favorite book together, out loud. It’s a great way for a child to feel confident and enjoy reading as a shared activity. This is a good time to read a book above their reading level.The more comfortable they become with reading, the more confidence they can build which helps a child become a more fluent reader. Students in 3rd grade may like to hear books read out loud like “ Holes” by Louis Sachar, or “Frindle” by Andrew Clements.

• Find a Reading Buddy: Make reading more fun by pairing your child with a reading friend. They can take turns reading to each other, making practice time something they look forward to. A sibling, a friend, or even  a parent or teacher can be the perfect reading partner. In the classroom don’t be scared to pair up readers of different levels. Each reader can learn something from each other. Make one partner the “A” reader and the other the “B”. This way it is clear who’s turn it is to read. 
  
  
• Word Games: Boosting  vocabulary can be entertaining. Whether it's a classic board game like Scrabble Jr, or an app  like Reading Eggs, word games are a fantastic way to enrich a child's language in a playful way. In a classroom setting,  you can try a game of Wordle as a whole group or small group activity.  Children love it, and it is a great way to build their vocabulary.  Words games are also  great for children that may have a learning disability like dyslexia. It can be a struggle to decode, and if a child already has the words in their vocabulary, it can make it easier for them when trying to become more fluent. 

• Engaging Activities: If students are not engaged, they are not learning. Dive into our collection of captivating reading passages  and activities from our resource library designed with young explorers in mind. From sight word practice and word scrambles to reading comprehension stories. There are so many resources at the ready that can help third graders become more fluent in reading.

Every child can become a great reader with a bit of practice and lots of encouragement. No matter the challenge, incorporating these strategies can significantly impact  a child’s  reading journey, especially if they are entering third grade. You can help them not only improve their reading fluency but also develop a love for reading that lasts a lifetime. The goal is to make reading a fun, easy, and an enjoyable part of  their daily routine.