Improving reading skills is a priority throughout elementary school, but it’s especially important in 3rd grade. During this school year, students typically become stronger, more confident readers who aren’t afraid to pick up a book and read independently. This is why it’s so important for parents to ensure their 3rd graders don’t fall behind when it comes to reading.

If your child is struggling to keep up with their classmates, it’s important to help them improve these crucial skills. Here’s what parents should know about seeking reading help for 3rd graders:

What Should My 3rd Grader Be Reading?

First and 2nd graders focus on learning to read, whereas 3rd graders focus on reading to learn. At this age, children should start to read longer books and understand more complex information. By this age, children should be able to:

• Describe the different characters in a story.
• Use context clues, such as illustrations on a page, to figure out the meaning of words they are unfamiliar with.
• Read and understand the difference between different types of books, such as non-fiction vs. fiction or prose vs. poetry.
• Compare and contrast different books, for example, two books written by the same author.
• Answer questions about a passage.
• Read words with more than two syllables.

If your child has not developed these skills, it may be appropriate to seek additional help so they can improve their reading skills.

How Can I Help My 3rd Grader Read Better?

Parents can play an important role in the development of their child’s reading skills. If your 3rd grader is struggling, here’s what you can do to help them become stronger readers:

• Ask questions before, during, and after your child reads. Get your child to talk about why they chose a certain book, what’s going on in the book, and what they thought of the story. 
• Encourage them to reread simple books that they have read before. Rereading these books can help them build fluency. 
• Help your child look up the meaning of unfamiliar words that they encounter when reading. Then, challenge each other to use the word in a sentence. 
• Turn reading into a fun experience by taking your child to the local public library or bookstore. Let them explore the many different books available and pick out which ones they want to read. 
• Check-in with your child’s teacher on a regular basis to find out how they are performing in class. Your child’s teacher may be able to provide insight on how to improve the specific areas your child is struggling with.

Help your children become the strong readers they were born to be by following these simple tips.

Would My 3rd Grader Benefit From A Reading Tutor?

Parents may also want to consider hiring a reading tutor to work one-on-one with their child. Spending a few hours a week with a tutor can help 3rd graders develop the skills they need to catch up with their classmates. If you have trouble finding reading tutors, you should try going digital.

Reading tutors may not be right for everyone, but working with a tutor could help if your child:

• Lacks confidence in their ability to read.
• Is not receiving enough instruction in the classroom.
• Enjoys and responds well to receiving one-on-one instruction.
• Asks for extra reading help.
• Needs to improve in specific, easily identifiable areas.
• Has been diagnosed with a learning disorder such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or dyslexia.

Practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to reading. The more 3rd graders work on their reading skills, the better they will become. For this reason, working with a tutor may be just what your 3rd grader needs to meet their goals and blossom into better readers.

Try A Digital Reading Tutor

Hiring a private tutor isn’t cheap. In fact, parents may have to spend hundreds of dollars a month in order to get their child the tutoring they need to succeed. But fortunately, hiring a private tutor isn’t the only way option when it comes to reading tutoring services.

Struggling readers can work one-on-one with a digital tutor on their smartphone or tablet by downloading the Readability app. This innovative app uses artificial intelligence and advanced speech recognition technology to help your child improve crucial reading skills.

Kids can practice their skills anywhere, anytime on the Readability app. Download the app to start your free 7-day trial today.