Speedy Readers Fluency Trackers
Level Grade 3 Passage 12.1
An Amazing Idea
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Date:
Directions: Read for 1 minute. Mark the last word. Count cumulative words on the right, subtract errors, and log below!
One day Connor called his friend Aidan and said, “I have an 12
amazing idea. My father has some old metal and wooden scraps. He said 25
we can use the materials to build a fort in the corner of our yard. If we 42
plan it, he’ll help us to construct it using his tools.” 53
So Connor and Aidan began planning. First they looked at the 64
building supplies that Connor’s father had laid out for them. There were 76
some boards, metal hinges, an old window, and various other wooden 87
scraps. Then they drew a diagram that depicted what they wanted the fort 100
to look like. 103
Aidan said, “Let’s make the walls and roof with the wood.” 114
Connor continued, “Yes, and I believe that old window is big 125
enough that we could use it as a door. We just need to attach the hinges 141
so that it can swing open and shut.” 149
Once they had everything all planned out, they went outside to take 161
a measurement of the spot where they wanted to build the fort. Then 174
Connor’s father came to inspect their plans and give some advice. He 186
said, “I think you won’t have enough wood to build this last wall because 200
you’ve planned to make the fort so large. Let’s make it a little bit smaller.” 215
So they decreased the size of their plans—and then they began 226
construction! Connor’s father helped them use tools like the hammer, 236
saw, and drill. Once the building was finished, they used a scrap of old 250
carpet to cover the floor. 255
With the fort complete, the boys didn’t wait one moment to start 267
playing in it! 270
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Level Grade 3 Passage 12.6
The Pony Express
Name:
Date:
Directions: Read for 1 minute. Mark the last word. Count cumulative words on the right, subtract errors, and log below!
Back in 1860, delivering the mail was not easy. The route from 12
Missouri to California was 2,000 miles. Mail could either be taken 23
over land by stagecoach or by ship across the sea. The stagecoach trip 36
took 25 days, while the ship voyage took several months. People were 48
looking for a speedier system. 53
The creation of the Pony Express changed things. This company 63
used relay teams of riders and horses. The Pony Express could deliver 75
mail in just ten days. 80
The company set up nearly two hundred relief stations along the 92
route. A rider and horse would take off from the first station. Because 106
of the rapid speed, the rider needed to switch horses about every ten 119
miles. The rider himself would travel up to one hundred miles before 132
a new rider took his place. 138
The teams rode day and night in all weather, with no 149
exceptions. The mail had to go through. Despite the tough conditions, 161
one relay team finished the route in record time. They made the trip 175
in seven days and 17 hours. 181
The Pony Express began operating in April 1860, but in 191
18 months it was gone. The company never made money, losing as 203
much as $200,000. The telegraph was another reason the Pony Express 214
failed. Once it became possible to send messages instantly through 225
telegraphs, the slow mail system was doomed. The Pony Express shut 236
down in October 1861. 240
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Level Grade 3 Passage 12.8
The Magic of Fireworks
Name:
Date:
Directions: Read for 1 minute. Mark the last word. Count cumulative words on the right, subtract errors, and log below!
Dina sat on a hill with her family and watched the superb 12
fireworks display. She gazed in awe as each new formation flashed in 24
the night sky. Some fireworks looked like shooting stars. Some looked 35
like spinning wheels or blooming flowers. The fireworks seemed 44
magical. But Dina remembered how her uncle had described the way 55
fireworks really work. 58
Uncle Russ had explained that each firework is packed with 68
gunpowder. It takes someone properly trained to set off fireworks. 78
That person lights a fuse at the base of the firework. That starts a 92
chain reaction. It sets off a charge that ignites the gunpowder in the 105
base. The explosion of the gunpowder launches the firework high into 116
the sky. 118
As the firework rises in the air, the fuse at its base is still burning. 133
When the firework reaches the right height, the fuse burns up inside the 146
firework. The firework can have one or more shells. Each shell contains 158
small bits of metal, such as iron or steel fillings, or salts. 170
The fuse ignites the gunpowder inside the shell. That causes it 181
to explode. Bright sparkles and assorted colors emerge into different 191
patterns. A shell might even contain explosives that crackle or 201
whistles that explode. 204
Dina was glad that Uncle Russ had given her with a technical 216
report. But tonight she was happy to think of the fireworks bursting 228
overhead as a magical event. 233
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