Early Literacy Support to Help Your Child Read by 3rd Grade

An early approach to reading support that helps young children build skills, gain confidence, and stay on track by third grade.

When it comes to learning, few milestones are as crucial as learning to read by third grade. Why? Because by the end of third grade, children are expected to make a major shift: they go from learning to read to reading to learn. If they haven’t built a strong reading foundation by then, every subject that follows—math problems, science concepts, history texts—becomes harder to grasp.

Yet, across the country, many students are falling behind. According to national assessments, more than 60% of fourth graders are not reading at a proficient level. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a warning sign. The earlier we support struggling readers, the more we set them up for long-term success. That’s where Kern Tutoring comes in.

Why K–3 Literacy Matters

The K–3 window is when children develop the foundational skills that shape the rest of their academic lives. These years aren’t just about recognizing letters or sounding out words—they’re about building the mental toolkit needed for reading comprehension, vocabulary development, and eventually, critical thinking.

When kids miss these foundational steps, they’re more likely to:

• Fall behind in other subjects
• Lose confidence in themselves
• Develop negative attitudes toward school and learning

Our mission at Kern Tutoring is to prevent that outcome by identifying issues early and giving kids the tools—and encouragement—they need to thrive.

Science-Backed Reading Strategies That Work

Not all reading instruction is created equal. At Kern Tutoring, we rely on proven, research-based methods grounded in the Science of Reading, including:

• Phonemic Awareness: Helping students hear, identify, and manipulate sounds in spoken words
• Phonics Instruction: Teaching the relationship between sounds and written letters
• Guided Oral Reading: Practicing fluency through structured read-alouds
• Vocabulary Building: Expanding word knowledge for stronger comprehension

These strategies help children not just recognize words—but understand them, use them, and enjoy them.

What Parents Might Miss

It’s not always obvious when a child is struggling with reading, especially in the early grades. Parents often tell us, “They love books!” or “They memorize stories so quickly!”—which is great, but may also hide deeper reading issues.

Here are a few signs to watch for:

• Guessing words based on pictures instead of sounding them out
• Avoiding reading aloud or showing frustration during homework
• Repeating the same reading level without real progress

Many families assume their child will “catch up” eventually, but in our experience, early struggles left unaddressed tend to widen over time.

How Kern Tutoring Helps

We specialize in catching reading challenges early—and turning them around. Here’s how we support our K–3 students:

• Personalized Reading Plans: Every child learns differently. We start with an assessment and tailor a plan based on their unique needs.
• One-on-One Attention: Focused sessions help us address decoding issues, fluency gaps, and confidence—all without the distractions of a crowded classroom.
• Reading Confidence Through Small Wins: We celebrate every milestone, from mastering tricky sight words to finishing a book independently. That confidence carries over into the classroom and beyond.

At-Home Tips for Parents

Tutoring works best when paired with positive reading habits at home. Here are three easy ways parents can help reinforce literacy:

• Read Out Loud Together
  Even 10–15 minutes a day makes a difference. Let your child hear your voice, expression, and pacing.
• Ask Questions About the Story
  Instead of just reading through, pause to ask questions: “Why do you think the character did that?” or “What might happen next?”
• Encourage Storytelling
  Have your child retell a story in their own words—or make up a brand-new one. This strengthens comprehension and creativity at once.

Let’s Build Reading Confidence Early

If you’ve noticed signs of struggle—or just want to give your child a stronger head start—Kern Tutoring is here to help. Our early literacy support is designed to catch gaps before they grow, build fluency, and help kids enjoy reading, not dread it.