Research abstract

Proven Method to Teach Reading Could Turn Around Third Grade Reading Assessments

Third grade reading has been low in Bexar County. That is demonstrated by reading assessments conducted each year. But a proven method for teaching is about to be introduced for students. By Texas Public Radio

0achild-684603_960_720
The third grade reading level in Brexar count is dropping and the community is looking to bring the success rate back up by introducing a program called SAReads. The programs main component is small strips of paper in front of each student, which adds words from the last one until the sentence is complete. One of the various reasons they feel this approach is needed is because the reading level is only 69 percent.

There’s concern in Bexar County that the number of third graders reading on grade level is low.

It seems to be a general consensus that this method helps prove reading skills greatly. They even go and speculate that low reading level skills have a correlation to people being jailed. They also attribute what may be causing the low reading levels to the students not being read to, a lack of understanding of the English language, and or the students having a lack of book access in general.

Key takeaways

  1. Third graders not on reading level are at risk for dropping out of high school, being unemployed, and more.
  2. Scientifically based reading instruction (SBRI) is a research-proven method of teaching reading that is not used often enough, which could reverse the trend of third graders reading below the appropriate level.
  3. At the moment, not enough universities are offering accreditation in SBRI methods, meaning that not enough people are using this method.
Is it dyslexia? Take the free test Ten minutes, no pressure, and a clear next step for reading and spelling. Take the dyslexia test

Is your child struggling in school?

Get your free personalized learning roadmap

You describe what you see at home. We turn it into a plan you start this week.

  • Answer 5 short questionnaires about what you already notice, 30–45 minutes at your own kitchen table
  • Your child sits no test and gets no score: nothing to schedule, nothing for them to dread
  • You do the answering, the AI does the writing, and a person reviews it before it reaches you
  • Access all 40+ courses instantly: reading, math, focus, processing and more, with new ones added regularly

Why we use AI, plainly: it writes from a knowledge base our team maintains and audits. We work through it line by line and pull anything the evidence stops supporting. The roadmap you get on Tuesday reflects what we corrected on Monday, and a human still reads it before you do.

Your school district must evaluate your child free of charge if you ask in writing, whatever your income and whatever the outcome (US, 34 CFR 300.111 and 300.301(b)). That route takes time and answers a different question than you do. This one starts today, from what you already know.

Get my free assessment & 7-day trial Cancel anytime during your trial.

Your answers stay yours. We do not sell your personal information, and we do not hand identifiable assessment data to outside AI companies to train their models.

A screener is a starting point, not a diagnosis. If your child might need formal accommodations (an IEP or 504 plan), or you suspect a vision, hearing or medical cause, pursue a professional evaluation too. That is the only route to those supports.

Laura Lurns · Learning Success expert Writes about the learning brain for parents who want plain answers. Every article is grounded in current neuroscience and classroom practice.