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I know this is a stupid question but I have to ask it anyway. It seems obvious but I just have to make sure I am getting it correctly. I know level 2 dictation is about second grade but are 3 and 4 also about on the corresponding grade level or do they cover a wider area. I am wondering if level 4 is just 4th grade or if the extension to 5th and 6th grade level. Anyone know? I tried to search but could not find the answer on the board. I feel like this question may have been asked before, maybe even by me. Thanks in advance.

w2w-

I don't know if the 'level' is grade level or not. But I did want to say that when my ds tried it he was challenged. He is an excellent speller...7th grade level in 5th grade... but I found the listening skills used in dictation were the challenge, as well as remembering proper capitalization and punctuation. So, if you haven't tried it, you might be surprised at the challenge it presents, even if a bit 'below' your dc grade level.

I agree with inHisTiming! The dictation passages are taken from The Modern Speller written in the early 1900's as dictation/spelling books here in the United States. While the passages were meant to be for the listed grade level, we have found them to be quite rigorous when compared to the spelling lessons we were used to with my oldest son, prior to switching to dictation. When compared to pretty much any spelling program out there, the passages will be much harder, simply because of the listening required, the punctuation, capitalization, and perfect spelling of all words required.

So, my 7th grader, who is a very good speller (and always gets 99th percentile in that area on the Iowa Basic Skills test), is currently doing Level 5 passages. This is only possible because he had previously done Levels 3 and 4 of dictation (as found in Preparing Hearts). Anyone new to dictation will most likely have to back up even further. Dictation requires a whole different set of skills from the skills used to memorize and test single words.

Our intent, by including 3 levels of dictation passages, was that children using the extension package could also use the level 4 dictation passages included. We plan to include 3 levels of dictation passages in each of our guides, with the last level of dictation being Level 8.

Blessings,
Carrie

Not a stupid question at all. In fact, I found this thread reassuring. I've been doing the level 3 of dictation with my 10 year old, and I was afraid he was behind (we haven't really done much dictation in the past). Thanks!

Great! Thanks for all the answers. I realize that she has to be able to do it but I kind of wanted to also know if we were behind. I know, I just can't help it sometimes.