Summer Learning: Bridging the Gap to 3rd Grade Reading
Heading into 3rd grade is a big leap — and this course makes sure your child is ready for it.
Starts Tue, Jun 23
6:30 PM UTC · 45m
4 sessions
Alyssa
4.5
Outcomes, not lecture notes.
Use context clues (definitions, examples, and contrasts in surrounding text) to figure out the meaning of unfamiliar words
Identify the main idea of a paragraph or short passage and distinguish it from supporting details
Decode base words, prefixes (*un-*, *re-*, *dis-*), and suffixes (*-ing*, *-ed*, *-ly*) to unlock the meaning of new words
Sequence events in a story using transition words like *first*, *next*, *then*, and *finally*
Summarize reading selections by distilling the central theme into key points
Apply active reading strategies — questioning, predicting, and visualizing — to deepen comprehension
Draw inferences and support conclusions using evidence directly from the text
Meet Alyssa.
Alyssa
An experienced and versatile educator, Alyssa Elswick brings ten years of teaching expertise to both classroom and online settings. Specializing in elementary education, she designs engaging, standards‑aligned curricula that integrate technology and innovative teaching strategies. Alyssa’s commitment to personalized learning and continuous professional development ensures that every student is supported and inspired to achieve their full potential. A Reading Olympics coach and Beginning Teacher of the Year award-winner, Alyssa teaches for Varsity Tutors and Virtual Virginia.
Heading into 3rd grade is a big leap — and this course makes sure your child is ready for it. Designed for students finishing 2nd grade, this four-session summer reading series targets the exact skills that make or break early reading success: decoding unfamiliar words, identifying main ideas, understanding word structure, and following the sequence of events in a story. Students work through stories, articles, and hands-on activities that build real comprehension — not just the ability to read words aloud, but to truly understand and think about what they're reading. By the end of the course, students will enter 3rd grade with sharper vocabulary, stronger comprehension strategies, and the confidence to tackle more challenging texts.
Live Q&A
Cameras / mics optional
Recordings
Available within 1 hour, kept 90 days
Materials
No special materials required
Similar classes
free with a Varsity Tutors membership
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Summer Learning: Bridging the Gap to 3rd Grade Reading