GOALS FOR BEGINNING READERS

1. READING-TO-LEARN

In Third grade, students switch from:

“LEARNING-TO-READ”

to

“READING-TO-LEARN.”

• Books written for K-2nd grade reading levels will include the tools needed to “learn how to read.” The students will learn how to:

a) pronounce letter sounds (phonemic awareness),

b) sound out written words (phonics),

c) read smoothly (fluency)

d) learn new words and their definition (vocabulary)

e) begin to understand what they are reading (comprehension).

 

• However, toward the end of 3rd grade, the students' reading lessons will focus more on comprehending or understanding the information.

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If students are not capable readers when they begin 4th grade, they will understand only about half of their lessons!

 

2.  INDEPENDENT READERS

Students will search out new books which contain more information and less pictures.

• Students will read from a variety of subjects such as: plays, magazine articles, poems, history books, chapter books, and nonfiction reading.

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3.  INDEPENDENT LEARNERS

3rd grade students can read instructions and begin activities on their own without help from teachers or parents.

 

4.  INDEPENDENT RESEARCHERS

Students will be able to research ideas online with less help from adults. And they will be more skilled in using online programs such as  IXL or Moby Max.

 

5.  MORE ADVANCED PHONICS

Students will continue to master high-level sight words. 

• Students should know 100 Fry Sight Words in GROUP 3 by the end of 3rd Grade.

• Students will begin to regularly use the dictionary for help with spelling a word.

• Students will learn to use a thesaurus.

1. A thesaurus is a book that lists words related to each other in meaning (synonyms).

2. For example, if a student does not know another word for "car," s/he can search a thesaurus and  find words such as "automobile" or "vehicle."

 

• Students will understand how prefixes (re-, pre-, non-, un-) and suffixes (-less, -ly, -able, -ful) can change the meaning of the root words.

• For example: the word "use" has a different meaning when changed to "reuse"  or "useful."

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6.  UNDERSTANDING FICTION vs. NON-FICTION BOOKS

Students will be able to tell the difference between fiction and non-fiction books.

Fiction Books:

• "Fiction" refers to literature created from  the imagination. The people and events are made-up.   

• Examples of fiction books are fairy tales, Mother Goose stories, Dr. Seuss books, and make-believe books.

 

Non-Fiction Books:

• "Non-Fiction" refers to books and stories based on actual facts.

• Examples of non-fiction books include: stories about a famous person's life, books on arts and crafts, music, cooking, health and fitness, animals, languages, religion, history, and science.

 

7.  READING COMPREHENSION

Students will be able to summarize what they have just read.

• Students will explain the main idea and supporting details after reading a fictional or non-fictional story.

• Students will offer their opinions, either agreeing or disagreeing with information presented in a story.