Third-grade ushers in many educational milestones. This may be the first year that children take MAP tests or other state assessments. Multiplication facts are often introduced in third grade, too, and many kids will begin memorizing those ‘x’ facts. Your child’s 3rd grade reading comprehension also may be challenged as longer books or stories are introduced. Many children often begin reading chapter books in third grade!

However, parents may discover that while their child can read these longer stories, they may have trouble following along in the book as the chapters progress and the plot evolves. 

As literacy expectations shift from simple text with easy-to-grasp plots to books with more complex story arcs and detailed character development, the gap between proficient readers and those who are falling behind may start to widen if reading comprehension issues aren’t identified early.

When it’s clear that a child’s third-grade reading comprehension has become a struggle, parents have a few options. 

The first option for many is to meet with the child’s teacher and discuss concerns. Sometimes additional help may be offered through specialized reading programs. Or maybe parents may find that their child isn’t behind at all (sometimes parents have much higher scholastic expectations).

Reading Comprehension Grade 3: What’s the Lexile®?

A child’s teacher may be able to provide detailed information about a child’s reading abilities. Often, schools will administer reading fluency tests to understand each child’s appropriate reading level. This helps administrators and teachers know which books will be best suited for each child. One of the most common reading benchmark tests is Renaissance Star Reading®.

Parents may receive a print out summary of their child’s Star results. Typically, results will include a percentile rank in relation to peers at the same grade level. A score of 85 percent would mean that the child scored better than 85 percent of other children in the same grade level.

Star scores also sometimes resemble another familiar literacy number: the Lexile®. However, the numeric Star score doesn’t translate to a child’s Lexile® (although, it could turn out to be the same number). So what is Lexile®? Lexile® is actually the Lexile® Framework for Reading. This is a range of numbers that help designate the reading level. These numbers can be a bit confusing, although they are often presented with a grade-level equivalent to help parents understand the Lexile®/grade correlation.

Lexile® also helps parents find the right book for their child. Need suggestions? If you know your child’s Lexile® number, you can enter it and receive a list of appropriate books! The tool on Lexile® ‘s site also lets you search by the lettered reading level, too (we’ll touch on that below!).

What’s the average Lexile® for third grade? The range for a typical third grade at the end of the year (spring) is 645 to 845.

3rd Grade Reading Comprehension: How to Decipher a Child’s Lettered Reading Levels

Renaissance Star Reading® may be a popular test used to gauge reading levels, but it isn’t the only tool teachers utilize in helping to understand reading proficiency. Another popular test is the Benchmark Assessment Systems (aka BAS). This test is a bit more in-depth and usually involves the child working one-on-one with the teacher. Parents may see the results of the test reported as a letter representing a specific reading level.

The lettered reading levels correlating to third grade are N, O and P. So, typically, a child should be at a level N in the fall and advance to level P by the end of the year. However, some children may be below or above this range.

If a child falls too far below this range, a parent may be concerned. Some parents may start to worry if a child scores just one letter behind what’s appropriate for the grade level. As a parent, if you’re upset about the result of any test, reach out to your child’s teacher and don’t be afraid to request additional testing or inquire about reading intervention programs.

The Ultimate Third-Grade Reading List

At home, parents should read with kids often to help gauge and increase reading comprehension. One of the best ways to work on story understanding is to read to a child and ask them questions about the plot and characters. Or have children read aloud, and, at the end of each chapter, discuss what happened and the actions of characters.

Here are some great and fairly easy to read books – by Lexile®–that are perfect for third graders:

• Cassie’s Word Quilt (420L)
• Chester (480L)
• Field Trip Mysteries: The Teacher Who Forgot Too Much (480L)
• Once I Ate a Pie (430L)
• The Candy Corn Contest (490L)
• Take Away Three (490L)
• Into the Forest (510L)
• Missing (510L)
• Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing (470L)
• Double Fudge (530L)

Reading Comprehension Grade 3: Use a Reading App to Help Improve Comprehension

If struggles are identified, parents also can utilize reading apps like Readability at home to help boost comprehension and proficiency. Readability features Interactive Voice-Based Questions and Answers (IVQA), which serves as a virtual tutor to help a child improve reading comprehension. Parents can keep track of their child’s progress with the Parent Dashboard; this provides insight at reading fluency and also tracks the amount of time the child has spent on the app.

For parents who feel that their child also could benefit from more intensive reading instruction, try Readability for free for seven days! All stories on Readability are designed to meet the reading needs and abilities of each child; as they progress, so does the program! Reading books with children and utilizing apps like Readability could help your child improve comprehension and become a more confident reader.

Your child’s teacher may have told you that your child struggles with reading comprehension. What is reading comprehension? This refers to the ability to understand what we read, and comprehension impacts how we relate to a story and its characters.

Reading comprehension is how we interpret a story and understand its meaning. When a child has a mastery of the comprehension element of reading, then all the ‘wh’ questions can be answered. The who, what, when, where, why (and how) questions all tie into character motivations and the story’s unique plot twists.

Why is Reading Comprehension So Important?

Some parents may find that their child can decode with ease. They can read anything, so they must have a wonderful grasp of reading, right? Yes, and no. We have to master all the components of reading before we truly become proficient. Decoding and understanding the sounds of words is essential to reading.

Yet, if a child reads a page but cannot describe what happened or why then comprehension could be an issue. Or maybe the child just became distracted and wasn’t fully engrossed.

How would a parent know if reading comprehension is a struggle? Reading with your child can help you to better gauge their understanding of a story. Ask questions throughout the story and encourage your child to try to explain the actions and feelings of a character. The more questions you ask, the better you can ascertain your child’s mastery of reading comprehension.

How Can Parents Improve Their Child’s Reading Comprehension?

If you discover that your child is struggling to understand a story, there are a few ways to help boost reading comprehension. However, if your child is really struggling, you may wish to facilitate a dialogue with your child’s teacher. 

Additional support may be available in the classroom setting, or your child’s teacher may have unique resources to send home for enrichment. Open communication between parents and educators is essential because it really does take a village to raise a child.

What can parents do at home to help children who struggle with comprehension? The best advice is to read with a child and ask them questions. Parents also can utilize reading apps to help provide additional support at home; Readability features integrated AI technology that assists children throughout their reading journey. Stories are leveled to fit each child’s individual needs and to ensure that text is neither too difficult nor too easy.

What More Can Parents Do To Boost Reading Comprehension?

The best ways that parents can help boost a child’s reading comprehension is by reading with a child, asking questions during storytime, using enrichment materials from school, or downloading a reading app for additional instruction. Special reading programs also may be available during class instruction.

Yet, reading is so much more than just decoding and interpreting words. Reading opens up new worlds and experiences. Reading enriches our minds. The act of reading should be fun! 

A great way for parents to ensure that all reading is enjoyable is to help a child embrace the adventure. While educational tools are essential to boost reading comprehension, parents can certainly think outside the box to create a remarkable and wonderful reading environment for their children.

Instead of sitting at a table, on a bed or the couch, take the reading adventure elsewhere. Here are outdoor reading spaces to bring stories to life:

• In your backyard by a tree
• In the garden (for fairytale adventures!)
• Under the stars with a flashlight (for stories related to space and the universe)
• By a campfire or a fireplace (for scary stories!)

Where we read may help us visualize the setting and backdrop for the stories. A unique environment also may help children relate more to characters or to the plot. Sometimes reading in a new space also helps reset the mind and helps make reading feel not so much like homework.

Take a Story Field Trip

When you’re reading a story or book with your child, consider taking a reading field trip related to the adventure. Every book has unique and fun adventures, and many can be safely recreated to help step into the minds of the characters.

In “From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler,” the characters ran away from home to live (for a brief time) at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Those living near the Big Apple can pay the museum a visit to retrace some of the adventures of the book.  Not a New Yorker? Take kids to your city’s art museum or any museum. Talk about the book, too! Find a fun or unique plot point and create a related field trip for your child. If the book takes place in outer space, consider visiting a science museum or planetarium.

Reading comprehension is essential for a child to become fully proficient in reading. Decoding may help children identify individual words and read simple sentences, but comprehension is necessary to fully understand the story and a character’s motivations. 

Help children at home with enrichment activities, reading apps, and by reading together and discussing the book. Take field trips to help children develop a deeper appreciation for the story by experiencing pivotal plot elements and exploring paths similar to the characters.

If your child needs additional instruction and enrichment to help boost reading comprehension, download Readability to see if the app works for your child’s needs. Parents can sign up for a free 7-day trial to test drive this unique program!

Helping with 2nd grade reading comprehension can be challenging, especially with those juggling employment and family. Almost all parents want the best for their children, but with reading comprehension, it isn’t only about the time spent helping them.

In order to keep things interesting, it often falls on carers to find additional reading comprehension activities, stories, and games. After all, when the kids get back from a day at school, they will only focus well if reading is fun.

During this period, many of us are also in a homeschooling situation due to COVID-19, and so it is even more important to keep reading interesting while also checking their level of comprehension.

Simply being able to read the words doesn’t mean they have understood the sentence, paragraph, or story.

Second Grade Reading – What to Expect

2nd grade is an important time for reading skill development. Children are generally required to reach a certain ability level, to enable them to continue learning effectively.

Here we look at some of the skills that should be developed by the end of the second grade, although earlier is obviously better.

• Reading – They should be able to read words and texts of a grade 2 level
• Decoding – They should be able to sound out words that they don’t recognize
• Comprehension – They should be able to understand what they read, find information, and understand numerous forms of written texts
• Punctuation – They should understand punctuation and how to read the text correctly without reading the punctuation aloud (such as by using tone or pausing)
• Speed – By the end of the grade, they should be able to read most texts at about 100 words per minute
• Understand Syllabification – Including breaking words into syllables, vowels, combinations, spelling rules, and plurals.

If all is going well, you should also see that your little one starts to enjoy the activity of reading. This can show up in different ways, from them hiding away with their favorite books, to trying to read almost everything they see while out and about.

Second Grade Reading Comprehension Checking

Comprehension checking activities are the only way to really increase second-grade reading comprehension levels. By having to talk about the story, the learner needs to make more of an effort to understand what they read.

Comprehension checking can be performed in numerous ways. The idea of most techniques is to push the learner to think about and relate to what they are reading. Here are a few of the approaches:

1. Reading Aloud Slowly – This gives them more time to process the meanings of words. It also allows them to hear the words and that often helps to associate words with their meanings.
2. Re-Read Favorite Stories – By re-reading stories, learners get more exposure to words they know or have recently learned. This helps to deepen their understanding of the story and the words. They also often find it easier to re-read stories they like and being able to read them can increase confidence.
3. Talk About the Story – Discussing the story and asking what they liked, how they felt, etc. can help to force the learner to think about the story more or in different ways that required to simply read it.
4. Summarize the Story – By asking them to summarize a story using their own words, the learner has to think about what happened, select the ‘key facts’ as they see them, and then retell it. This can be both a challenging activity and an interesting one, as children often see things differently to adults.
5. Fact-Finding Questions – Although this is a more basic form of comprehension, it is also a useful study skill that’s worth developing for later life. Being able to recall or scan a text for facts is useful in almost all areas of study. For these kinds of questions, you would ask something such as “why did the dog bark?”, or “what color was the car?”.
6. Moral of the Story or Opinion Based Questions – Discussing what the lesson of the story was or what they think about the situation can greatly help compassion and empathy, as well as provide a deeper understanding of the story.
7. Relate to the Readers Life Experiences – This one is brilliant for teaching understanding and also how to relate to other people’s feelings. Relating the story events to experiences the reader has had can help them to understand the characters and emotions involved in the story.

It is also vital that the learner has access to a diverse library of level-appropriate reading materials. This not only helps to prevent reading from becoming a boring task but helps to promote reading as a hobby.

Reading Comprehension Grade 2 Made Easy

All of the above approaches work well and have been proven effective. However, parents and carers don’t always have the time to work on reading comprehension for grade 2 students. Up until now, they often had to rely mostly on the school and when they had time free to go through such activities.

Fortunately, this is no longer the case. Reading apps are far more advanced and AI developments have allowed for a new form of comprehension checking. We call it “Comprehension with IVQA™”.

This new technology is a part of our Readability app. It means that the learner is asked comprehension questions by an AI at the end of reading a paragraph. They then can answer by speaking directly to the app. So, not only do they get full support while reading, the app actually checks that they understood the texts.

To see it in action, why not take our 7-day free trial for a spin and see how we can make 2nd-grade reading comprehension a lot more fun for children and their parents.

The first grade is a critical time for children as they develop the skills they need to fully learn how to read. Since there is so much new information, many children struggle to get through this milestone at this age. Keep reading to learn more about 1st grade reading comprehension, and how you can help your child get over any hurdle in their reading lessons.

What are the common first-grade reading comprehension challenges?

Before your child gets a solid handle on reading, they learn a few independent skills such as phonics and spelling. By learning how to sound out a word, they’ll move on to developing a catalog of sight words before fully reading a sentence or passage. This phase is often where children will feel frustrated or slow their progress.

Children go through this process in their own time, but they often experience a similar set of challenges:

• Decoding
• Recognition vs. Comprehension
• Speed

What is decoding?

Decoding is the child’s ability to recognize the sounds letters make independently and in connection to other letters. By sounding out words and phrases, the reader continues to build their mental library and the text becomes easier to read each time.

But, since decoding is the first step to understanding new words, it’s common for children to become discouraged and want to give up because it’s no longer easy.

How is reading recognition different from reading comprehension?

Once your child is able to pronounce the text in front of them, they’ll move on to the next step.

While sight words are great practice for reading comprehension, children often hit a plateau when they rely on recognizing individual words rather than understanding the meaning of the text. This is the most critical step in developing their reading comprehension skills. 

Why is reading speed important?

After gaining an understanding of the material and the words that are being used, the reader will usually pick up speed in subsequent tries. Timing is another element that often creates a roadblock for readers.

By moving through the material too quickly, the reader won’t be able to pick out the key ideas but might get the big picture. Reading too slowly can cause the reader to fixate on insignificant details without processing the story as a whole.

Helping your child improve their reading comprehension starts with understanding what they’re struggling with. Then, you can create an effective game plan that will keep them engaged. 

What are some 1st grade reading comprehension lessons?

Keeping the attention of your energetic first-grader might sound like a tall order, but there are a few easy ways to make their lessons more of a game than a boring study session.

Use a reading app to improve your child’s reading comprehension

Using a reading app to improve your 1st grade child’s reading comprehension is a great alternative to traditional pen and paper exercises. Just like their favorite video game, this teaching method uses interactive digital elements and AI to build a lesson that adapts to your child’s voice in real-time.

Reading apps are also easy to use and cost-effective, compared to other online educational resources. Plus, there’s no need for any equipment other than what you probably already have. Simply download to your mobile device, sign up, and start learning. 

Help children read with verbal processing

Talking about the story is a simple way to help your child work through what’s keeping them from fully grasping what they’re reading. Verbal processing helps them work through their memories to connect the story from A to B.

Ask them questions about the key characters or the steps that led to the main point of the story to start off. You can talk about these elements before, during, or after your lesson to keep your child focused every step of the way.

Reread, repeat, and review

Repetition is a young reader’s best friend. New stories are fun and exciting, but running through the same story multiple times will help your child gain a much deeper understanding of the content. This is one of the most effective ways to study, and it’s been proven in nearly every academic subject.

But, rereading a story doesn’t have to be boring. Try the “popcorn” method of alternating between reading passages aloud, or give the characters funny voices for dramatic effect. You can always make the same story new again.

Your child’s reading progress becomes more and more important as they progress in school. If your child is falling behind in reading comprehension, there’s no need to worry. There are a variety of ways to improve your child’s 1st grade reading comprehension, such as downloading Readability onto your tablet or smartphone. Try this comprehensive reading app free for 7 days!