Reading Comprehension

This is called critical thinking and it is a learned skill. There are several books at the library, at bookstores, on Amazon that you can buy to help. They are basically books of riddles, brain teasers, situational problem solving. What she will learn with critical thinking won't just help her in science, it will help her in life and it's a wonderful thing to instill in her.

ETA - Critical thinking is the ability to take the information you have received and use it to problem solve or reach all possible conclusions to a situation. (Just didn't feel I was very clear).

The big difference in 3rd grade is that they are no longer "learning to read" they are "reading to learn"!

They do have reading comprehension workbooks that have helped my 3rd grader out a bit. His thing is the stories are "stupid" and he couldn't care less to read them (the weekly reading assignments) yet he can remember something he reads in an adult coffee table book about something that truly interests him.

Anxious to see your responses, as this is an issue right now in our house. My son is a great reader, he just doesn't "like" the stuff they have to read in class. Sigh.

When studying for the test I would have her explain the different things to you, or ask her questions in a similar manner as they are presented in test. She needs to really understand the concepts in order to be able to apply them to different situations. Also, talking about real life examples of whatever they study will probably make it easier for her to understand.

If has a reading delay then she qualifies for assistance. She can get oral testing, un-timed tests, all kinds of accomidations. Talk to the school psychologist and find out if she can get tested for a reading issue so she can feel successful in all of her school work.

Obviously she is good at comprehension and her reading skills are awesome but it's the processing part of it you are describing. It is in there somewhere in the diagnosis of reading issues. I can't remember what it is exactly.

I have always had trouble with that. It could be the 'test taking ' too that doesn't allow her to do well. Some kids don't do well on word problems, and dont' do well on timed tests; this along with comprehension. She made need another way to take her test. Everyone learns in a different way. I wish more teachers would recognize this and are able to apply the tests in different ways for their students.
She will have to study harder and you may have to work with her teacher to see if you all can come up with a different way for her to take the tests in order to help her understand what is being asked of her.

Practice. It takes practice and repetition. Hearing a science fact once is hard to remember. After hearing it again, they will get it.