Emerging Readers question

[Kims]

We just finished the Early readers bible and started on Owl at home. It seems that Owl at Home is a big jump for him and he is struggling. Is this normal and did anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions?

[MelInKansas]

It is a big jump. The Early Reader's Bible was too easy for my DD so I had looked ahead to see if the books ahead were more challenging (in retrospect I really should have bought the harder Bible, I was buying all these things 4 months before we started and I had no idea how much she would progress in her reading in that time). We are now in week 16. Owl and Home and the Frog and Toad books are the easiest of the books following the Bible. What some people do is have their child go through both Bibles before starting the other readers. The other thing you could do is slow it down about 1/2 so the amount of reading each day is less, if its really a struggle. But yes, the level jumped up pretty quickly from that Bible to the other books, and it will just keep going up from there it seems.

[psreit]

We just started Owl at Home yesterday and it was tough for dd. She had also finished the Early Reader's Bible. I may do, as the pp suggested, to only do half the reading in a day, if she struggles too much. I wanted to give her the opportunity to read some other books, so I will go through Owl and Toad & Frog books. If it seems like they are getting too difficult, I will have dd go to the Beginner's Bible, since we have both copies.

[Kims]

We did go at half speed since that was a long reading. I do also have both versions of the bible so I may do that.

[MelInKansas]

That Bible is really just a perfect level for starting out readers. I struggled to find books at the library, or other easy readers that my friends had, that were good for that level. I guess it's good enough that they don't seem to stay at that level for very long. Probably the younger they are though, the longer it will take them to be able to do longer readings.

[Heidi in AK]

Kim, from what I remember Carrie telling me, the Early Readers' Bible was a little easier reading level than the Beginner's Bible. That's exciting that Collin is reading so well, though! I don't have any tips, because as you know, we'll be heading into this realm in the new year.

[Carrie]

Kim,

If your little honey is struggling with Owl at Home, you could consider getting The Beginner's Bible and doing that following the plans and questions from the first 9 weeks of the Emerging Reader's Schedule. Then, after that you could head back to Owl at Home. It is possible that your little honey may need a little extra bridge. Some kiddos do. The Early Reader's Bible is about a 2.0 or beginning second grade reading level. The Beginner's Bible is about a 2.4 or second grade fourth month level.

Blessings,
Carrie

[Kims]

I am considering trying that since I have that book here too. I am going to press on when we start again on Monday. This week has been so hit and miss with school because of all the Nutcracker rehearsals and performances he has been in. But at least I have that bible here in case we need to switch.