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I just wanted to check real quick if the Dictation level typically corresponds to the same grade level ie Dictation level 2 with 2nd grade, level 3 with 3rd grade, etc. I know you can do it at whatever pace, but wanted to see if there was a correlation. Also, does dictation stay in the guides the whole way through or does it drop out? Thanks!

Originall, yes. It would have corresponded to grade level. But not anymore. Since spelling is done through studied dictation and done a bit differently than the way it would have been done before, not it doesn't. It doesn't actually "drop out" of the guides either. Typically when students start Bigger (2nd-4th grade) they will then begin the processes of learning studied dictation. In addition, by Bigger they will be doing loads of copywork as well. Both will increase their spelling skills. It is just planned that once a child finishes level 8 of dictation, that they are finally finished with spelling lessons.

There are 7 levels total (2-8) of dictation. It doesn't drop out, but when a student completes Level 8, they are done. As for grade levels, the passages come from books over 100 years old. I bet 100 years ago, they did correspond to grades. But then, most kids finished school in 8th grade AND spelling/dictation was a main focus. Today, education is a lot different, and I don't think they necessarily correspond to grades. Many start Level 2 in third grade for example. Some finish a level a year, and some finish in less than a year. Others take more than a year to complete a level. All is fine! I would start with the lowest level in the guide you are using (assuming your child is placed perfectly). If after a week, your child is FLYING through them, barely having to study them and getting them right on the first attempt, then I would just do the top ones on each page until you find your child missing them or really having to study them.

Nealewill wrote:Originall, yes. It would have corresponded to grade level. But not anymore.

I need to amend how I wrote this.

All of the dictation levels 2-6 comes from an old dictation level written title "Day by Day Dictation." This was written approximately 100 years ago. So.....at that time, it was "grade level." Times have changed and so has education methods. HOD uses some of these passages and the level is NOT grade level. Hope that clarifies why I wrote that.

StephanieU wrote:There are 7 levels total (2-8) of dictation. It doesn't drop out, but when a student completes Level 8, they are done. As for grade levels, the passages come from books over 100 years old. I bet 100 years ago, they did correspond to grades. But then, most kids finished school in 8th grade AND spelling/dictation was a main focus. Today, education is a lot different, and I don't think they necessarily correspond to grades. Many start Level 2 in third grade for example. Some finish a level a year, and some finish in less than a year. Others take more than a year to complete a level. All is fine! I would start with the lowest level in the guide you are using (assuming your child is placed perfectly). If after a week, your child is FLYING through them, barely having to study them and getting them right on the first attempt, then I would just do the top ones on each page until you find your child missing them or really having to study them.

I just read this after I amended my post. Thanks so much for clarifying for me