Ask students for the purpose of the readings. Reading for pleasure comes from selecting their own books from the library, bookstores or homes. In this way, students learn about narratives. They learn that the purpose of a fable is to end in a moral or lesson to help in life. Students can learn about themes from reading a group of stories. Guide students to awareness of the differences between fiction and non-fiction selections. Other reading purposes include reading to learn and locate information. Assist the students in distinguishing the reading purpose among various types of writing.
Reading checklists include vocabulary skills. Ask third-grade readers to use context clues for unfamiliar words. By looking at the surrounding text and images, young readers can make informed guesses about what a new word means. Encourage students to read as much as possible so they can recognize high frequency sight words. Use dictionaries to develop additional vocabulary skills such as alphabetizing words, and learning to use prefixes, word roots and suffixes. Increase phonemic awareness and understanding of phonics.
All third-grade reading checklists include organizational skills. In story narratives, students identify the story elements, such as plot, characterization, mood and setting. In expository readings, ask students to distinguish the main idea, supporting points and the use of specific examples. Aid students in developing an awareness of the many ways to organize readings. Practice with tables of contents so students can learn how to quickly access patterns of organization.
Take students through the methods of assessing reading comprehension. Invite students to summarize their reading. Develop paraphrasing skills that avoid plagiarism through written and oral assignments. Demonstrate the strategies of skimming for the main idea, and scanning for specific information. Practice these strategies through games, worksheets and assessments. Work on students' prediction skills by asking them what will happen next during a story.