What level should a 3rd grader be reading at


📚 Making Sense of Reading Levels plus booklists for every Grade

Books to Read • Mom Stuff

August 30, 2021

by Beth Gorden

Anyone else completely confused by reading levels? There are guided reading levels, Lexile numbers, and Book Levels like the library uses. I found this especially confusing when my kindergarten and grade 1 students were beginning to read. I assumed you just get a beginner reader, but guess what – it’s NOT that easy! Many beginner readers are actually for 3rd graders! YIKES! Don’t worry, I can explain reading levels, give you book recommendations by grade, and take all the work out of finding your child the best books to read by reading level!

Making Sense of Reading Levels

What Level Books should my Child be reading by Grade!

I think one needs a masters degree in nonsense to make sense of reading levels! Seriously there are 3 different systems used: Lexile, Book Level (like most libraries) and Guided Reading (Scholastic) that parents must try to understand. And if you google it, there isn’t much useful information out there either.

I even talked with my local librarian who gave me a lot of misinformation, ugh! So I did deeper research so I could pick out readers for my kids.

Reading levels by grade

I don’t claim to be an expert on reading levels by any means, but for all you confused parents here is some help from a mom that was just as confused as you are!

Note: All kids read at their own pace and this is just an average generalization. Please work on reading books at your child’s reading level. For kids who are great readers, they may be reading at books above their reading level.

Don’t miss our hugely popular family Monthly Stories for Kids

Kindergarten Reading Level

Kindergartners are just beginning to read using some basic sight words and decoding simple words. In the library look for books labeled 0.1 – 1.3.  For those using the Scholastic Guided Reading level, look for A, B, or C. (That is 25-75 in Lexile). Remember they need 30 minutes of daily reading; practice makes perfect!

  • 50 Books for Kindergartners to Read by Themselves
  • 45 Must Read Books for Kindergartners (Read Aloud)

 

First Grade Reading Level

1st Grade students are decoding more words, learning rule breaker rules, and adding more and more sight words. Through the course of the year they can be anywhere from a 1.0 – 1.9 for readers at the library. For those using Scholastic Guided Reading that is B-I or Lexile 50-275. Remember they need 30 minutes of daily reading; practice makes perfect!

  • 100 Books for 1st Graders to Read Themselves 
  • Favorite 1st Grade Read Aloud Picture Books
  • 17+ 1st Grade Read Aloud Chapter Books you won’t want to miss!
  • Top 25 Chapter Book Series for 1st-3rd Grade

2nd Grade Reading Level

2nd Graders are reading well independently. Although they may start their year in advanced readers, most are ready for simple chapter books by the end of the year. Just like Kindergarten and 1st graders, they need lots of practice to continue advancing. Even though 2nd graders are reading well on their own, they still need time reading aloud to an adult who can help them correct pronunciation, flow, and check reading comprehension to ensure no issues creep up. At the library look for books labeled 1.6-2.9. Using a Guided Reading system look for H-M or 225-450 in Lexile.

  • Best 2nd Grade Reading List
  • 2nd Grade Read Aloud Chapter Books
  • Top 25 Chapter Book Series for 1st-3rd Grade

3rd Grade Reading Level

3rd Graders are comfortable reading simple chapter books on their own. They continue to need lots of practice and time reading aloud as well. At the library look for books 2.2 – 3.9, Guided Reading level L-P, and Lexile 400-650.

  • 3rd Grade Reading List
  • Top 25 Chapter Book Series for 1st-3rd Grade

4th-8th Grade Reading Level

Although at this point most kids are reading chapter books that are no longer labeled with a reading level, I wanted to give you some tools in case you feel the need to further assess what your child is reading.

  • 4th Grade Book List  – 3.3-5.5 Book Level, O-T Guided Reading, 600-850 Lexile
  • 5th Grade Reading List –  5.0-7.4 Book Level, S-W Guided Reading, 800-1000 Lexile
  • 6th Grade 6.7-8.6 Book Level, V-Y Guided Reading, 950-1050 Lexile
  • 7th &8th Grade 8.0-9.0 Book Level, X-Z Guided Reading, 1035-1100 Lexile

 

Find out any Books Reading Level

You can find out any books reading level (Lexile, library Book Level, and Scholastic Guided Reading) by checking AR Book Finder.

   

Free Printable Reading Logs

  • Monthly Reading Log – this free printable has ‘traditional’ monthly themes
  • Bookshelf Free Printable Reading Logs – super cute and fun for kids of all ages!
  • Pencil Free Printable Reading Logs -print reading worksheet and color a pencil for each book you read
  • Frozen Free Printable Reading Logs – kids will have fun tracking their reading and the books they’ve read with this motivating free printable for kids of all ages
  • Princess Free Printable Reading Logs – students will have fun tracking their reading with these free printable reading logs
  • Super Hero Free Printable Reading Logs – using a favorite theme of kids will encourage kids to read
  • Cars Free Printable Book Logs – children will have fun tracking the books they’ve read with these clever free reading log
  • Summer Free Printable Reading Logs – students will be motivated to read this summer with these ideas
  • Reading Comprehension Bookmarks – this is a great tool for making sure kids are understanding what they are reading
  • Reading Levels by Grade – how to pick the right books for every reading level and tons of printable book lists too

     

Book Report Idea

Looking for other ways to help kids work on reading comprehension and summarizing a book they read? Try these free resources:

  • Handy Reading Comprehension Bookmarks (any book: fiction or non fiction)
  • Book Report Template
  • Book Report for Kids
  • Pizza Book Report Idea
  • Sandwich Book Report Idea
  • 26 more clever Book Report Ideas
  • Library Scavenger Hunt – help kids learn to navigate a library, the Dewey decimal system, book genres, and so much more with this pack of free printable scavenger hunts for kids!
  • Bookshelf Reading Log – to help encourage kids to read!

Plus, here are some great ideas for Creating a Reading Nook where kids will want to curl up and read a book!

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About the author

Beth Gorden

Beth Gorden is the creative multi-tasking creator of 123 Homeschool 4 Me. As a busy homeschooling mother of six, she strives to create hands-on learning activities and worksheets that kids will love to make learning FUN! She has created over 1 million pages of printables to help teach kids ABCs, science, English grammar, history, math, and so much more! Beth is also the creator of 2 additional sites with even more educational activities and FREE printables - www.kindergartenworksheetsandgames.com and www.preschoolplayandlearn.com

What Reading Level Should a Third Grader Be At?Making English Fun

Reading Levels are most commonly used to find the instructional and independent reading levels of students. For 3rd grade reading levels this will enable teachers, parents and students to choose appropriate reading literature.

If the reading level of the book is in this ”goldilocks” zone then it will help students practice and develop reading skills that are just challenging enough. Too easy it becomes boring, and too difficult it becomes frustrating.

For third grade students this is a huge step forward. To do this, it is important to gauge at what reading level the student is performing and to do that you have to assess what their 3rd grade reading levels are.

Third grade reading levels commonly range from 12 to 25 on R.R. and PM Benchmarks. Higher levels in this range means that they are nearing the top of the class, but lower levels should not cause any issues at this stage. Guided reading and levelled books will help 3rd graders improve their reading skills.

Reading at appropriate levels is especially important in grade three English lessons. Students at this age and development stage are starting to read for fun and enjoyment, they are starting to choose their own interests.

Although there is still plenty to learn in English, they will be starting to master phonics and pronunciation rules at this stage and focus will be on reading comprehension and reading to learn. ( if a high enough level has been achieved)

This what reading level should a third grader be at article will also cover the following information:

  • Targeted information on reading levels and how you as parents and teachers can help your students by having knowledge of them
  • Tips and advice to help your 3rd grade students develop to the best of their abilities.
  • Some of the grammar, Phonics and other English Topics that a 3rd grader will learn in reading lessons.
  • Links to our Reading resources, for 3rd grade and others.
  • Advice for both teacher and parents on 3rd grade reading levels

We have a selection of reading resources in the link below if you want to get stuck in. These range from grade 2 up to grade 4 and loads of phonics resources as well – and are printable with comprehension questions included

There are free versions of these on the site as well however the bundle is a better option!

Why Are Reading Levels Important

Reading levels in English are an excellent way for teachers, parents to provide differentiated instruction and resources that target a students strengths and areas for improvement. They provide a individual leveled starting point to challenge but not frustrate students English progress.

Reading levels allow teachers and parents to implement the following:

  • Develop Reading schemes such as guided reading, reading groups, buddy reading etc
  • Target individual students needs (differentiated learning)
  • Target areas for further practice, and reading skills that need reinforcing
  • Provide self learning and reading opportunities by having leveled reading resources in the home and classrooms.
  • Develop a reading awareness for students. allowing them to choose their own materials, at their own reading levels.
  • Increase confidence in students as they see their needs being met and being taught at instructional rather than frustration levels of English.

In third grade reading levels start to play an increasing level of importance. Students at this age will be starting to progress at different speeds, even more pronounced that in grade 2. This has the potential to create large differences in abilities and reading levels in classrooms.

Being able to address those differences in an effective, time saving and thought out manner is going to have a knock on effect on more than just grades. Classroom management should become easier as students are given reading materials and tasks appropriate to them and their needs and requirements.

Although the holistic benefits of both knowing and incorporating reading levels in to lessons are many. In todays educational environments grades and results are of course still vitally important.

Just to show some examples of this, rather than just tell you about it. I have a REAL leveling information sheet for a 3rd grade class below. This shows their reading level at the beginning of the year and their reading level at the end of the year.

You can click on the image to make it larger…. I have changed their names for privacy. (I did have some strange names in my classes but I never had anyone named strawberry 😉 … I did however have a shark boy!

You can see, even with just a cursory glance, the huge improvements this 3rd grade class made throughout the school year. Even if they were among lower level readers at the beginning they improved dramatically buy the end of the year.

The higher levels may have less dramatic ( but still impressive) improvement mainly as their general English lessons are not challenging enough, but also the higher the level of English the slower, relatively speaking, the progress.

What are the Different Leveled Reading Programmes

There are numerous different leveled reading programs that although using different grading systems, all follow a simple enough premise. Books, and reading material, in all systems are written with increasing difficulty, word count and phonics as each level progresses.

We have included an image below ( from REAL) of some of the levelled reading systems and how they compare to each other ( to help with book purchases if needed).

Many Guided reading publishers have developed their own systems as well.

  • Scholastic Guided Level Reading Program
  • CCSS Lexile Recommendations
  • DRA Level
  • PM Benchmark

Other Grade Reading Levels

We have a collection of articles on other grade reading levels below.

Other Grades Average Reading Levels.

We have a selection of articles on reading level expectations for different grades below.

What is the Difference between Instructional, Frustration and Independent Reading levels.

We include this information in all our levelled reading articles.

What is an Instructional Reading Level?

Instructional Reading level is the reading level directly below independent. Students should be able to comprehend and decode upwards of 80% of the text at an instructional level. This level can vary between students and also between subjects as students have interest and motivators that differ.

What is an Independent Reading Level?

An independent reading level is a level of reading ability that allows students to read texts without assistance from teachers or parents. When reading this level of text students will be able to decode over 90% of words and answer increasingly complex comprehension questions independently.


What is a Frustration Reading Level?

Frustration level reading can be defined as text that are to complex for a students current reading level. Texts at this level will not help progress students to higher levels, conversely attempting to read at this level will demotivate students and hinder their development of reading skills.

In 3nd grade, as well as every English classroom, reading lesson and homes teachers and parents should aim at using an instructional reading level. This enables students to comprehend and therefore engage with texts with minimal assistance, and gives them the motivation to see they are doing well, but still have the support and guidance of teachers and parents.

Guided reading, for which we have many articles and resources, is an excellent way of introducing text at this levels to small groups of 3rd graders.

In fact is it very beneficial to continue guided reading at this stage as students have matured and are becoming more independent. Check out the links to know more. We have an article here on what age you can start teaching guided reading. as long as you know the 3rd grade reading levels, then this can be done in any school.

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What 3rd Graders Learn Throughout the Year.

As we mentioned above a third grader can be reading from about reading level 12 to level 25. However please don’t worry if your students or children are below this, or be to confident if they are above this.

Children will develop in their own time, and though we can help and guide them we should not push them to the point where learning , reading or any other activity becomes a chore. Keep reading fun, directed and instructional and your children and students will progress just fine.

We have a table below highlighting what the reading aims are for Grade 3. However, the TLDR version is simple: Keep them interested, develop a culture of reading, and concentrate on discovering any gaps in knowledge with levelled reading so you can target these issues.

The next section covers what skills they will learn to help them improve their reading levels through out the third grade.

Note: All children develop at very different speeds, and different learning environments will have an impact. If English is a second language, or if there is little exposure to English, or if English is seldom used outside the classroom, all will play a part.

Be assured that if you can get your hands on a levelling set or download one and get an idea of the approximate levels of your children or students, you will be able to cater for the needs in a way that is accessible and instructional to their correct levels!

Targeting in this way will help that development progress much quicker, especially in third grade when they are learning and exploring their own interests. Provide them will leveled materials and this becomes much more effective.

What Reading Skills They Will Learn in Third Grade

We mentioned in our What level should a second grader be at article, that as students get older then emphasis shifts from learning to read to reading to learn and comprehension, and higher order / critical skills start to come in to play.

In third grade, for the more advanced students especially, but for all students if in a native classroom, these higher order and critical thinking skills can be incorporated and introduced into lessons and levelled reading sessions where appropriate.

These critical thinking and reading skills are cross curricular and are so important to their future learning, yet almost criminally overlooked in the day to day bustle of classrooms. We have a workbook designed solely to help develop these skills which you can check out on the link below.

Another skill that is taught in third grade, or even earlier if feasible is the ability to judge which books are suitable for them and their reading level. This becomes more important in third grade as they learn where their interests are start to seek out reading material for themselves. It helps them judge which books are too easy and which are too difficult.

Skills LearnedResources to Help
Read for fun and improve fluencyReading Grade Three Leveled Texts Set 2 and set 3
Development of their own reading skills, and
become more aware how to use them with less prompting.
Using Syllables and Y as a Vowel Worksheets
Stronger command of phonics, and phonetic patternsVowel Digraph Worksheets
Recognition of syllables, and multiple syllable wordsUsing Syllables
Be familiar with different text types, fiction, non fiction, poetry etc.Simple Poetry Reading
Start to develop critical thinking skills that can be applied to reading and in wider contextsReading Skills Workbook

In third grade Vowels taking the form of digraph and diphthongs will be formally taught and words in 3rd grade reading material will increasingly contain them.

Longer and more complex words will be introduced with multiple syllables are in 3rd grade reading level material.

Tenses and the grammar surrounding tenses will have been introduced in the later stages of grade 2. In grade three there will be an introduction to the other tenses. We have worksheets for Future, Present and Past here for free download.

Sentences and constructing more complex sentences will become more important in 3rd grade reading levels. Reading materials will include more complex versions and teachers and parents can use reading levels to gain appropriate levels of text for their students and children.

We have some on the site for free, and in addition we also have sentence making and sentence scramble worksheets as well (link)

However some of the best ways to engage 3nd grade readers is through online games. By this time they will have become aware of tablets and phones being help in parents and siblings hands. Leveled books are one way to improve 3rd grade reading levels but its not the only tool in the box.

We have articles on some of the best online games, and have a page that has all the ones we make as well. These are free to play and very popular and certainly add motivation to your lessons! They are suitable across a wide ranger of reading levels.

What Can Teachers Do To Improve 3rd Grade Reading Levels

Teachers can improve 3rd grade reading levels by creating a love of reading in classrooms and place great emphasis in reading both in formal lessons but also in free time.

  • Have a selection of levelled reading material suitable for 3rd graders covering fiction and NON fiction texts.
  • Make sure there is a mix of text types and text subjects. So that many interests are covered
  • Try to have a corner in the classroom for quiet reading, to be used at recess and during lessons / station activities.
  • Mix up ways of presenting resources, online games, worksheets readers etc.
  • Ask 3rd grade students to explore the deeper meanings of stories, the feelings and empathy they may have. Ask them what they would do, or why they think characters act the way they do.
  • Display reading strategies and phonics strategies on walls for students to reference. ( also put in their day books or on desks)
  • Introduce or develop 3rd grader knowledge of higher reading comprehension skills ( we have resources for this here)
  • Run Guided reading lessons. (you can get information on this here)

What Language Will 3rd Grade Reading Level Books Contain?

Third grade reading level book, especially at the higher end of the lvels, will start to catian much more complext lanague.

  • Language contained in reading resources will move from two syllables maximum to 3 and 4 syllable words in reading books of this level. Topics will become more complex, and use of adjectives will be more detailed.
  • Synonyms will be commonly used and prefixes / suffixes and reported speech will also be more regularly sighted.
  • There will be a mix of fiction and non fiction, and the comprehension questions will become more detailed.
  • There will be the eliciting of opinion with answers. there will be less ”what color is the ball and more how do you think they feel type questions in 3rd grade.
  • The important thing, and often forgot, is that the levels of the books remain the same. It may be that a first, second or third grader is reading them. There are not set books for different grades, there are books for different reading levels.

Our reading materials include 3 to 5 questions to help with this. These can be asked verbally or they can complete them as a worksheet post reading.

Quick Tips to help Reading in 3rd grade

This is taken from our Reading for first grade article but applies across all grades.

  1. Break down every word into individual letters. If there’s a combination (sh, th, ough), separate it into its own chunk. This starts to introduce syllables to students.
  2. Focus on words that they already know how to say. If they’re familiar with the word, they’ll be able to use contextual clues to figure out how to read it.
  3. Don’t study for too long. Short 15-minute study sessions hold their interest long enough to prevent reading from becoming a boring chore. Little and often is better.
  4. Use the resources from school and online to supplement these skills. you can access using the following links the 1000s of reading resources on our site for free and premium downloads.

How Can Parents Help Their Second Grader Develop a Love for Reading?

Parents, especially at first and second grade, play a vital role in helping your child become interested in reading. Story telling, appropriate reading resources and books in the house will all help.

In third grade your little reader will be becoming more independent, they grow up so quickly, so allowing them time to read independently and for enjoyment is one of the best things you can do.
Not every book needs teaching, not everything is a teachable moment, sometimes we all just need a little time to enjoy a good book

Here’s a list of ways that you can help your third grader develop a love for reading: It is similar to the second and first grade advice:

The books may change but the mechanics of reading levelled books do not.

  • Find reading material that they’re interested in. For example, if they love dinosaurs or space , choose those books over anything else. Also allow them to choose as well. It’s not the concept that matters; It’s the words found throughout the reading that makes a big difference. We have some leveled reading material aimed at young learners here. However sites like Starfall offer online stories that may help as well.
  • Offer incentives for their reading. Although the aim is to have them choose to read for fun all things start slowly and build momentum. If you can associate reading with enjoyment and reward (extrinsic in the first place) then they will start to enjoy reading and learning for its own merits. Stickers, days out, pencils all work well here.
  • Picture books can keep your child’s interest . If you stop reading after 15 to 20 minutes, they’ll be begging to jump back into the material. Its great bonding time as well. Having book quizzes you have read together is a great motivator for third grader as well.
  • Use alternative texts, screen magazines etc. Children can be introduced to different text types to show there are reading opportunities everywhere. Even subtitles on their favorite movies with each of you doing a voice is a great reading activity.
  • Ask what your children are covering in school. If you ask their teachers they will be happy to share and offer advice on how to help your third grader progress as well as they can.
  • Take a look at using online games to diversify how you introduce learning and reading.
  • Lead by example, find some time each day to sit down with a book and just read, your child will learn by watching.

Children are always seeking out new opportunities to learn. Parents can simply guide them to make sure there is a little structure to their learning.

Let them choose their books but discuss with the school which level your children are to make sure it is useful for motivation for sure, but also that it is of a level where they ca understand most of it.

Using their interests to guide their reading means they are learning about topics they like and improving their reading. As they progress so with their reading levels, providing you have started them at a reasonable 3rd grade reading level book.

Finally

We have covered the average 3rd grade reading levels in native classrooms, of course there will be some difference in ESL or other classrooms. They key takeaway from all of this is that children will progress at their own speed. you can help them on their reading journey but you shouldn’t force them.

Make sure they have access to reading materials at their level, encourage them to put into use their phonics skills and comprehension skills they have learn in previous years and aim at their interests.

If you manage to achieve these things above then their ability and interest levels will only go up as they read more and more.

Reading should be a joy not a chore.

Here’s a quick recap of the post:

  • 3rd grade reading levels typically fall between a 12 to 25 reading level.
  • Focus on reading for fun, comprehension skills and appropriate levelled reading material.
  • Follow their interests and start to let them recognize text difficultly. Taking ownership allows them to develop their own good reading habits.
  • Use additional resources and activities to engage and inspire them

Sources

  • Scholastic – Learn About Leveled Reading
  • Reading A to Z – Levelled Books
  • Amazon Second Grade Reading.

Hi I’m Marc. A teacher of over 15 years, English, General Studies and Outdoor Education. Thought it was about time to sharing both what I have learnt during that time and the resources I have put together. On this site we aim to teach the theory and share our thoughts, but also go that one step further and give you access to the hard resources you need for your class or for you children

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Making English Fun!

I have been a teacher of English for over 15 years, in that time i made hundreds and thousands of resources and learnt so much i think its worth sharing. Hopefully to help teachers and parents around the world.

Reading technique. Norms 1-4 class.

Since many parents stubbornly refuse to understand what is the point of testing reading technique in elementary school (grades 1-4), I give up and publish reading norms. At the same time, I ask you to carefully read not only the quantitative norm of words per minute, but also my explanations both in the table and below it.

Reading Speed ​​Standards Grade 1-4

→ Number of words may vary slightly depending on curriculum. Increased rates are given in parentheses. nine0014 → Grade 1: no mark given, student “passed” or “failed”. In the first half of the year, the reading technique may not be carried out.

Grade

at the end of the first half of the year

at the end of the second half of the year

1 class

at least 10 - 15 (20 - 25) wpm 2 -> less than 15 (25) wpm
by 3 -> 15-19 (25-34) words
by 4 -> 20-24 (35-40) words
by 5 -> from 25 (41) words

2 cl.

by 2 -> less than 25 (40) words per minute
by 3 -> 25-29 (40-48) words
by 4 -> 30-34 (49-54) words
by 5 -> from 35 ( 55) words
2 -> less than 40 (50) words per minute
3 -> 40-44 (50-58) words
4 words -> 45-49(59-64) words
by 5 -> from 50 (65) words

3 cl.

by 2 -> less than 40 (55) words per minute
by 3 -> 40-49 (55-64) words
by 4 -> 50-59 (65-69) words
by 5 -> from 60 (70) ) words
by 2 -> less than 65 (70) words per minute
by 3 -> 65-69 (70-79) words
by 4 -> 70-74 (80-84) words
by 5 -> from 75 (85) ) words

4 class

by 2 -> less than 65 (85) words per minute
by 3 -> 65-74 (85-99) words
by 4 -> 75-84 (100-114) words
by 5 -> from 85 (115) ) words
by 2 -> less than 70 (100) words per minute
by 3 -> 70-88 (100-115) words
by 4 -> 89-94 (116-124) words
by 5 -> from 95 (125) words

Other reading parameters 1-4 class nine0020 Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. Compliance with logical stresses. Words of a complex syllabic structure can be read syllable by syllable.

Grade

at the end of the first half of the year

at the end of the second half of the year

1 class

Conscious, correct reading, simple words are read as a word. Words with a complex syllabic structure can be read syllable by syllable.

2 cl.

Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. With observance of logical stresses, pauses and intonations. Syllabic reading is undesirable.

3 cl.

Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. With observance of pauses and intonations, through which the student expresses understanding of the meaning of what is being read. nine0025 Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. With observance of pauses and intonations, through which the student expresses understanding of the meaning of what is being read.

4 cl.

Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. With observance of pauses and intonations, through which the student expresses understanding of the meaning of what is read, and his attitude to the content of what he read. Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. With observance of pauses and intonations, through which the student expresses understanding of the meaning of what is read, and his attitude to the content of what he read. nine0025

Criteria when setting an assessment for reading technique:

- Reading by syllables or word completely,

- Availability of errors when reading,

- number of words per minute,

- expression,

- awareness.


can be clicked to enlarge


As you can see, the number of words read is not decisive.

That is, parents need to understand that such a concept as reading speed is only one of the criteria for determining the level of reading technology . way of reading is checked : the child reads by syllables or the word is read by him smoothly, in its entirety. It is mandatory to check reading comprehension , in other words, whether the student understands what he has read or not. To do this, after reading, a question can be asked about the text, most often “What did you just read about?” and requires a simple answer (a detailed retelling is not needed 😉)

The expressiveness of reading, the presence of errors and / or stammers are also taken into account. Sometimes there is a return to re-reading the previous word, this indicates a lack of awareness and is considered a mistake.

It should also be taken into account that the standards of speed (rate) of reading may differ depending on the educational institution, the requirements for a student of a gymnasium will be higher, for a student of a correctional class - lower.

The frequency of checking reading technique in elementary school is usually 2 times a year: the end of the first half of the year and the end of the second half of the year. However, in some schools the reading level is checked at the end of each quarter or trimester. nine0005

And again! I warn, I exhort - and all the same, the "lion's" part of the students and parents steps on the rake, from which I try to warn.



Understand, memorize, write down and repeat:

No need to speed read! That is, only five words per minute is not good, of course. Some reading speed is needed.

BUT: she, speed, appears as if by itself. The task of the child is simply to read without errors, without stammering or straying, not to swallow the endings and try to observe intonation. nine0005

Of course, we are guided by word standards. And yet, do not set the child to "run ahead of the locomotive." Repeat to him a hundred times: you just read and that's it. Everything!

If you have been reading every day for a year, if your child does not become discouraged when he sees the text, he will pass the reading technique.

The number of words read is not decisive.

Well… I warned you. Conclusions are up to you, dear parents!

standards for classes and quarters

Reading is a key skill that opens the gate to the land of knowledge for a child. Thanks to this skill, children learn about the phenomena and events of the world around them, get acquainted with the characters and actions of people, meet new problems and ideas. This skill helps them to broaden their horizons and ideas about the world, develops critical thinking and trains cognitive abilities - attention, imagination, memory. Reading is the foundation for further successful learning.

To understand how well a child develops this skill, it helps to check the reading technique. Reading technique is a multifactorial test that characterizes the development of a skill from different angles. In reading technique are evaluated:

  • read speed,
  • reading method,
  • reading awareness,
  • correct reading,
  • expressiveness of reading.

A difficult reading skill consists of both a technical and a semantic component and is aimed at achieving the main goal - understanding and assimilation of the information read.

Reading technique parameters

Let's consider all the components of reading technique in more detail.

  1. Reading speed - the number of words read in a certain period of time. Often, parents focus on the formation of fluent reading, while the child makes many mistakes, does not understand and does not remember what he read. It is not necessary to force only speed, slower conscious reading and a gradual increase in tempo are better than fast mechanical reading with errors and inaccuracies.
  2. Reading method — syllabic reading or reading the whole word, smoothly. With the development of the skill, the child has a gradual transition from syllabic reading to smooth reading in whole words. nine0280
  3. Correct reading of is characterized by the absence of errors and hesitation. Inattention, problems of diction lead to inaccurate reading, indistinct articulation and, as a result, to a distortion of meaning. Pay attention to the correct reading - this will be the key to competent writing.
  4. Reading awareness involves reading comprehension, awareness of the idea and meaning of the text, and in the future - this is the ability to catch the subtext, humor, irony, the attitude of the author. Interfering with reading comprehension can be low reading speed, distorted reproduction - guessing words, changing the shape of words, not reading endings. nine0280
  5. Reading expressiveness - the use of pauses, finding the right intonation, the correct placement of stress. The expressiveness of reading is inextricably linked with awareness. When understanding what is read, it is easier for the child to observe the necessary pauses, select the correct intonation and place logical stresses.

Reading speed standards for primary school

GEF standards determine the desired reading speed for a child by a certain point in learning, help to understand whether the development of a skill is successful or whether additional attention is required. Standards - indicative values; it is important to take into account the individual psychophysiological characteristics of each child and evaluate the growth of his personal indicators. nine0005

Reading speed standards in grade 1

Reading speed standards in grade 2

Reading rate in the 3rd class

9000 The reading speed to aim for by the end of elementary school is reading at a conversational speed of 110-120 words per minute. The human articulatory apparatus has adapted to this speed over time. And most importantly, the reading should be conscious, correct, expressive. nine0005

Other parameters of reading technique

Grade 1

At the end of the first half of the year. Reading is smooth syllabic, conscious and correct, with a clear pronunciation of syllables and words.

At the end of the second half of the year. Conscious, correct reading, simple words are read as a word. Words with a complex syllabic structure can be read syllable by syllable.

Grade 2

At the end of the first half of the year. Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. Compliance with logical stresses. Compound words can be read syllable by syllable. nine0005

At the end of the second half of the year. Reading meaningful, correct, in whole words. With observance of logical stresses, pauses and intonations. Syllabic reading is undesirable.

Grade 3

At the end of the first half of the year. Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. With observance of pauses and intonations, with the help of which the child expresses an understanding of the meaning of what is being read.

At the end of the second half of the year. Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. With observance of pauses and intonations, through which the child expresses understanding of the meaning of what is being read. nine0005

4th grade

At the end of the first half of the year. Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. With the help of observed pauses and intonations, the child not only expresses an understanding of the meaning of what is being read, but is able to express his attitude to what he has read.

At the end of the second half of the year. Reading consciously, correctly, in whole words. With observance of pauses and intonations, through which the child expresses an understanding of the meaning of what is read, and his attitude to the content of what is read. nine0005

How can I test my child's reading skills on my own?

Have your child see how well they read already. Children usually love to know how many centimeters they have grown, and they may also be interested in knowing their progress in reading. Warn about the upcoming test and ask the child to read quickly.

The control of reading technique in sensitive children who, due to their temperament, can hardly tolerate various tests, can be carried out imperceptibly or in the form of a game. Do not create unnecessary excitement around the upcoming test, do not arrange a test in the form of an exam. If the child is worried, stutters, transfer control to another time. nine0005

Verification process:

  1. Prepare a watch with a second hand or use the stopwatch on your phone, and choose the appropriate text.
  2. Ask your child to take a seat.
  3. Show him the text and ask him to read it aloud.
  4. Track the time from the moment your child starts reading. Not all children are able to immediately start reading on command, which leads to inaccurate results.
  5. Usually, one minute is noted for checking, but some experts recommend taking 2 minutes for monitoring, since not all children are equally quickly included in the work. Divide the result obtained in 2 minutes in half. nine0280
  6. When reading, do not correct or interrupt. It is better to discuss the mistakes made after the child has finished reading.
  7. Evaluate the speed, correctness, awareness and expressiveness of reading.
  8. Retest and compare results. Reading technique may differ depending on the child's fatigue, health status and mood.

Which text is suitable for verification?

For this purpose, both fiction and popular science texts, appropriate for the age of the child, are suitable. The text should be unfamiliar, but understandable to the child, have educational and educational value. The texts of V. Bianchi, L. Tolstoy, N. Nosov, B. Zhitkov, K. Ushinsky, V. Dragunsky are suitable. The text for verification can be found in special manuals or in a textbook on the Russian language and literature. nine0005

You should find the text that is located on the spread of the book so that the child does not have to waste time turning pages. Choose text without an abundance of punctuation marks and distracting illustrations. It is not desirable that the passage contains common complex sentences and dialogues. The font must be large enough and legible. The text should not have a technical focus and contain terms incomprehensible to the child.

Test score

Speed ​​score

Count how many words the child read in one minute. When counting words, pay attention:

  • prepositions, conjunctions, particles of 1-2 letters are counted as one word;
  • when wrapping, a word counts as 2 words;
  • if the word is written with a hyphen, look at how many letters are on both sides of the hyphen: if there are more than three, we count it as 2 words, for example, "long, long", if less than three, for example, "somehow", - as one .

Compare the result with the recommended limits and the child's previous performance. nine0005

Comprehension score

Determine how well the child understood what they read. If the student reads slowly and only read a couple of sentences, let him read the passage to the end. Ask your child a few questions about the text. Ask what or who he read about. Ask the child to identify the main idea of ​​what they read and retell the text.

For a deeper check of the meaning of the reading and learning, use special teaching kits. nine0005

Correctness assessment

Pay attention to whether the child reads what is written correctly, whether he pronounces words clearly, whether there are hesitations and corrections, whether he alters words, whether he changes endings, whether he places stresses correctly. Discuss the mistakes with the student.

Evaluation of expressiveness

To assess the expressiveness of reading, the child is offered a familiar text. Listen to whether the child observes pauses and other punctuation marks, whether he changes intonation, whether he highlights the main idea. nine0005

Improving reading technique

Poor results in reading technique are not a reason to be upset, but only a signal that additional efforts need to be made to improve the skill. You can work with the child on your own or contact a specialist who will analyze the weak points and select the appropriate exercises. Conduct additional activities with the child in the mode of "sparing reading" without pressure. It is more important to observe the regularity and frequency of classes: 10-20 minutes daily. nine0005

How can you motivate your child to read:

  1. Reward for diligence with stickers, stars.
  2. Mark progress visually - create a success board so your child can visually see their progress
  3. Conduct activities in the form of a game, such as "going to the library" or "reading to your favorite toys."
  4. Choose interesting books and texts for your child.
  5. Let the child read to the pets, they are grateful and accepting listeners. Reading to them, the child is not afraid to make a mistake, he relaxes and overcomes the fear of failure. nine0280
  6. Have a reading competition between peers and siblings.

To improve the speed of reading will help:

  1. Reading by syllabic tables.
  2. Multiple reading. Read the same text several times, increasing the pace. From the second time the child will be able to read faster.
  3. "Tug". An adult leads a finger along the line, setting the pace. The child tries to read at a given pace.
  4. Tops and roots. The child reads the words, covering the upper or lower half of the letters with a ruler. nine0280
  5. Reading in a book turned upside down.
  6. Lightning. Alternating reading at a comfortable pace with reading at the highest possible speed for 20 seconds on the command "Lightning!".
  7. Sprint. Reading speed competition between classmates.
  8. Work on expanding the field of view according to Schulte tables.
  9. Reading with a window to eliminate "regression" - recurrent eye movements that lead to repeated reading.

For correct reading:

  1. Work on clear diction, do articulation exercises.
  2. Read tongue twisters and tongue twisters.
  3. Invite the child to correct the deformed sentences: "The weather is good on the street. "
  4. "Imaginary word". When reading, the wrong word is pronounced, the child must correct it.

Reading comprehension

  1. “Wave Reading”. First, the child reads aloud, then retells what he read.
  2. nine0279 Drawing up a plan for reading.
  3. The student reads to himself at a comfortable pace, tells what he understood and felt, what he thought about
  4. Discuss unfamiliar words and expressions.
  5. Invite the child to draw an illustration to the passage they read.
  6. Ask them to tell you what they liked about the text, what they remember.

For expressive reading

  1. Role-playing, staging.
  2. Arrange a "radio show". nine0280
  3. Expressive recitation of poems.
  4. Voice flexibility training. The ability to speak quieter-louder, higher-lower.
  5. Conducting reading indicating the tone or strength of the voice.
  6. "Live picture". One reads, the other reacts with facial expressions.

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