Why Does the End of Third Grade Predict Your Child’s School Success?

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Family, for parents, Kids, parenting, parenting tips

End of third grade does NOT predict your child’s overall success in life. It is, however, the most notable benchmark in reading, as your child switches from ‘learning to read’, to ‘reading to learn’. This is very key! If your child is not a proficient reader by end of third grade they are set up for a very challenging journey of catch up as the grade levels increase and the requirements increase. Reading is the foundation to all learning, including, believe it or not, math. As a child gets further and further behind, they lose self-esteem, can drop out of school, join the wrong peer group, or make poor choices such as alcohol or drugs. All of these can, as you know, contribute to serious drawbacks and failures in their lifetime, whether it be getting and maintaining a job to avoiding jail and much more. Think about it, can they manage money when shopping, can they read a bus schedule to get to work…and the list goes on. If your child continues to struggle with reading and comprehension by end of third grade, parents must engage and seek the help they need. Ideally, parents should be engaged from the time their child enters life. Read aloud to your baby to prepare them for the sound of language and the pattern of language. Reading and talking with your baby and young child increase their vocabulary. Did you know research demonstrates the amount of vocabulary your child has when entering school can greatly predict your child’s reading success? Encourage your child to read and show them the importance and joy of reading with frequent trips to the library, reading with them every day, and very importantly, let them see you reading! Reading lasts for a lifetime and begins at birth.