Students should enter grade 3 as fluent readers, reading a at DRA level of 28 or higher. This year they will to learn more strategies to decode unknown words and figure out meanings using context. Reading and comprehension s of both fiction and nonfiction strategies are explicitly taught and students are expected to respond to questions using text evidence and details to support their thinking. 3rd graders become more attentive to the features of fiction and nonfiction text, should be able to retell stories, find the theme (morale) or author's purpose in writing the text, and answer questions about the text. Students should be able to read grade level books and stories with understanding and fluency. By the end of grade 3 students should be reading at a DRA level of 38.