Explain the purpose of conventions of standard English usage, such as punctuation at the end of sentences; the meaning of paragraphs; why bold font might be used for headlines or to highlight certain important ideas. Demonstrate how printed materials provide information and ask the child to use the index and glossary to find information about the text.
Instruct the child on how to pronounce prefixes such as "re" and suffixes such as "tion." Give him the opportunity to apply his knowledge of the sounds of letters and structural analysis in decoding unfamiliar words. The child should also be able to use context clues and illustrations to figure out the meaning of words, including those with more than one pronunciation.
Provide the child with activities that enable her to recognize third-grade level vocabulary words with ease so that she can read fluently with correct phrasing and inflection. Third graders should be able to read chapter books silently and independently.
Ask the student to read a passage and explain the purpose of the text. The purpose may be to inform the reader, to entertain him or to persuade him. Teach the third grader to differentiate between fact and opinion, cause and effect, and the main idea and supporting facts and details. At third grade level, students should also be able to interpret information in graphs, charts and diagrams.
Give the student appropriate reading materials and ask her to explain how the author used humor, sarcasm and imagery. Discuss literature with the third grader and ask her to identify the underlying theme or message of the story. Ask her to summarize main ideas and draw conclusions from what they read. Third graders should be able to compare the plot, characters and settings of different stories, and identify the "I" point of view.