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3rd grade

Reading Comprehension Worksheets & Tests

Free, printable and accessible online
– made especially for the third grade

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instruction

3rd grade worksheets instructions

All worksheets have 3 versions:

1

Just the text

2

The text with the questions

3

The text with the questions and the answers

We constructed it this way in order to reduce the amount of pages you need to print.
We encourage you to print the version with the answers just once, for your own reference.

Use these texts online

We more strongly encourage you to use these texts online. Other than ecological reasons, practicing reading comprehension online is also much easier to grade, simplifies tracking of progress, adaptive to the level of the specific student, and increases motivation to practice with the students.

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3rd grade teaching tips

One of the primary goals for third-grade readers is to learn common Latin suffixes, which helps them decode words, thus improving reading comprehension. At this age, readers should also be able to understand the main idea of an informational text, retell key details, and explain the interrelationship between the two. Use the tips outlined below to facilitate the acquisition of these skills.

Encourage the Practice of Re-Reading

Not only does re-reading a passage enable third graders to read with improved fluency, but it also encourages improved comprehension of the text. At this age, readers should be able to read approximately 90 words per minute, and using re-reading exercises will encourage the development of that level of reading fluency. Have readers reread short bursts (i.e., a sentence or paragraph) to practice these skills.

Teach Them How to Use a Dictionary

Whether a student uses a hard copy or references an online dictionary, looking up unfamiliar words helps improve reading comprehension very rapidly. Adding unfamiliar words to their lexicon – and learning how to spell those words – will also improve their understanding of the main idea and key details of a text. It’s a great way to become familiar with the meaning of Latin suffixes, too.

Ask Them to Make Predictions

A fun way to engage children in reading is to ask them to make predictions about what might happen next in a passage. Making these kinds of inferences improves their comprehension of the material, enables them to remember what they’ve read, and also challenges them to think creatively about the text.

 

You can also find hundreds of 3rd-grade reading comprehension worksheets available for purchase at readtheoryworkbooks.com 

3rd grade worksheets

Below are 10 reading comprehension worksheets and tests that are accurately measured to fit the 3rd grade level.

A Problem At The Fire Station

Topic

A Problem At The Fire Station

Lexile level

480

Num of questions

5

Types of questions

Central message, lesson or moral,Identifying the main topic and key ideas Identifying the author’s point of view, Cause and effect comprehension

Calm on job

Topic

Calm on job

Lexile level

580

Num of questions

7

Types of questions

Answering questions with evidence, Central message, Identifying the author’s point of view, Summarizing

Car For Sale!

Topic

Car For Sale!

Lexile level

460

Num of questions

5

Types of questions

Central message, Identifying the author’s point of view, Summarizing

Dear Emily

Topic

Dear Emily

Lexile level

470

Num of questions

5

Types of questions

Summarizing (usually with written responses), Central message

Roller Coaster

Topic

Roller Coaster

Lexile level

570

Num of questions

7

Types of questions

Understanding figurative language, Central message, Identifying the main topic and key ideas, Facts vs. opinions inference

Sky Boots

Topic

Sky Boots

Lexile level

500

Num of questions

7

Types of questions

Central message, Identifying the main topic and key ideas, Facts vs. opinions inference, Identifying intent and conclusions

The New Law

Topic

The New Law

Lexile level

500

Num of questions

6

Types of questions

Facts vs. opinions inference, Identifying intent and conclusions, Central message, Identifying the main topic and key ideas

Thinking First

Topic

Thinking First

Lexile level

540

Num of questions

7

Types of questions

Central message, lesson or moral, Identifying the main topic and key ideas, Identifying intent and conclusions

Tornado

Topic

Tornado!

Lexile level

560

Num of questions

7

Types of questions

Summarizing (usually with written responses), Central message, lesson or moral, Identifying the main topic and key ideas.

Where We Live

Topic

Where We Live

Lexile level

470

Num of questions

7

Types of questions

Central message, lesson or moral ,Identifying the author’s point of view

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