Everything You Need to Know About Third Grade Testing

Oct 4

Reading Time: 1.75 min

Title: Everything You Need to Know About Third Grade Testing; Photo: smiling children reading together

The idea of your child falling behind or struggling to keep up in school is unsettling. And with third-grade reading retention policies up for debate in more than a dozen states, parents wonder how to prepare their kids for proficiency testing. Here’s what you need to know.

What are reading retention laws?

Simply put, reading retention laws allow or require states to hold back students who perform poorly in reading by the close of third grade. Proficiency standards vary from state to state and are typically test-based.

Why third grade?

Experts say third grade marks the end of the “learning to read” period and the beginning of the “reading to learn” period for children. This logic suggests that students who aren’t reading at grade level by the end of third grade will start to fall behind as other students begin absorbing more information in fourth-grade math, science, and social studies.

Can exemptions be made for students?

Depending on your state’s policies, some exemptions can be made for students who have special circumstances — like individual education plans (IEPs), 504 plans, or who have received special instruction (summer school or in-school reading programs).

How to help your child prepare for testing

When prepping for standardized testing, the best thing you can do is help your child build confidence. Allow your child to be in control when reading and support them as they work through their assignments. If they get stuck, help them figure it out but don’t overreact or make them feel like they did something wrong.

If you make reading fun, you can help your child become more confident in their reading abilities. Educational games like Lou Adventures are great tools for helping kids improve their reading skills. Our game-based learning method encourages children to engage with and enjoy what they are reading to gain more confidence. These factors can lead your child to develop a stronger overall desire to read and improve outcomes on testing.

Want more ideas on how to improve reading skills? Check out our blog archive for related posts like managing school anxiety and fun ways to engage reluctant readers.

And visit our kids activities page for reading support templates and fun activities!