How to teach 3rd graders how to read?

Question

I'm about to do some community service where we're going to teach 3rd graders how to read. What's the best way to go about doing this?

This is just 4 three hour sessions.

Answer 1

There are many approaches:
1. Phonics (phonemics) getting the students aware of the sounds of the language. Usually start with consonant sounds. After teaching a sound, have them cut out pictures (or draw them) of objects that start with that sound.
2. Whole language approach - lots of reading aloud and having the students start to recognize sight words (words we don't sound out, just know)
3. Language Experience approach - after any activity have the students (one by one is optimum) dictate what happened. Then they read it back. The theory is that it is easier to read a word that you've just said.
The best approach is a combination of the above. (Oh, there are tons of other methods.)
Remember that 3rd grade boys are still very active and having them move rather than staying seated is probably a good thing.

Answer 2

I would use the book "The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading". It step-by-step lessons. With a third grader you can probably skip the first thirty or so lessons. Don't expect results overnight learning to reading correctly will probably take at least half a year depending on the child's current skills.

Answer 3

By 3rd graders do you mean which who below average or the one who is illiterate??
For below average students let them read the textbooks thoroughly, if they are not able to do so - push them wherever necessary.. see if they are able to read and if they find it difficult you can read for them and let them repeat it after you. Once they are thorough with the reading procedure then it becomes very easy to write.

For illiterate people you will have to start with the basic alphabets, use colourful charts and just dont stick to the old A for Apple, use your imagination and then teach them..