Third Grade · Reading · week 29

Read questions FIRST strategy

Use the strategy of previewing test questions before reading a passage to focus attention while reading.

Here is a smart test-taking strategy: before you read a passage, skim the QUESTIONS first. That way, you know what to look for while you read, instead of reading once for no reason and then rereading the whole thing to hunt for answers.

This does not mean reading every word of every question carefully -- just a quick skim to notice the topics being asked about, like character feelings, main idea, or a specific event.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Practice with any worksheet passage: skim the questions together out loud before reading a single sentence of the passage.
  • Ask your child to name, in their own words, what the questions are asking about before reading.
  • Time a practice round with and without previewing questions first, and compare how it felt.
  • Remind your child this is a strategy for TESTS specifically -- for fun reading, just enjoying the story is the priority.
Talk about it:
  • What is the "read questions first" strategy?
  • How does previewing questions change the way you read a passage?
  • When do you think this strategy is most useful?

Mastery looks like: They preview test questions before reading a passage and use that preview to focus their reading and locate answers efficiently.

Common stumbles: Skimming questions so fast that nothing is remembered while reading; skipping careful reading of the actual passage by over-relying on the preview.

Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
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