Third-grade readers are expected to be able to state the main idea of text along with some supporting facts. In addition, third-graders should be able to understand the basic motivation of most characters and discuss ideas presented in the text. Making connections with similar ideas and situations helps increase reading comprehension because the limited understanding of each story helps students understand the underlying concept. For example, if a child who has moved reads about a child who is new at school, the similarities and differences between his experience and those of the character help him understand that moving affects people differently and therefore deepens his understanding of that experience.
Encourage your third-graders to relate what they are reading to personal experiences. Eight and 9-year-old children usually remain somewhat concrete in their thinking, and helping them connect personal experiences and interests to characters helps build comprehension and increases enjoyment in reading. Consider asking them to keep a responsive journal when they read. Encourage them to write about similarities between a character and an experience they have had or they have watched a close family member have. For example, if you are reading about a boy who was teased at school, your students might write about being teased or watching someone close to them be teased.
Read two similar stories with your class. Engage them in a discussion about the similarities and differences between the two narratives. Recognizing similarities between characters or events will help students increase comprehension by facilitating their ability to use story structures to find deeper meanings. This is especially true when characters respond differently to similar situations. For example, in one story, a child might get help for a problem, while in another he might solve it himself. Discuss with your class the benefits and costs to both strategies. This will encourage a deeper understanding of the issue.
Use your class discussions of a story to create a classroom spiderweb. Write the central character's experience in the center and ask your students to state similar experiences. Write those in a circle around the central theme and connect them with lines to the center. Ask the class to make connections between their ideas and draw lines connecting those experiences as well. Once that is complete, ask if those ideas sparked any additional memories, and write those in a second circle surrounding the first. As the student relays his idea, ask which story prompted it and connect the two with lines. When the students are finished, return the discussion of the story and ask if anyone has any new ideas about the character's experiences.