heartofdakota.com

Hi all,

I just tested two of my kids reading levels, based on the link that one of the moms posted in the "reading assessment" post on this board. As I suspected, my 5 year old dd's reading level was 2.6 basically 2nd grade five months. My 7 year old dd's reading level was 2.4, or second grade fourth month. What level, beyond or bigger would you place my kids in based on the fact that the younger one actually is a better reader than the 7 year old. I felt like people were telling me to put them in Beyond so that the material wouldn't be too advanced for my 5 year old, but she is actually very advanced for her age. In actuality more advanced than the 2nd grader. What do you all think???

Blessings,
Kyle Thomas

I would still put them in Beyond. I used Beyond with a 6 and an 8 year old this year. They are having a blast! You can use whichever reader set fits and DITHOR at their level.

Hi Kyle,

I don't have an answer, just some suggestions of other things to consider. My 5.5 year old daughter (kindergarten), is also an advanced reader and reads as well or better than my 7 year old daughter (first grade) and my 7 year old reads above her grade as well. While my 5.5 year old is advanced in reading, she still needs a lot of work to improve her handwriting and some other skills. All that to say, reading isn't the only thing to consider as I discovered when trying to place my two girls. I would suggest looking at the first week of plans for both Beyond and Bigger and consider all aspects of them and not just the reading portion. This will help you get an idea of how you think they would both do within each.

I ended up placing my two in LHFHG for the school year we are in now. I just used a higher level math, handwriting, and fine motor skills for my older daughter. They both do the language arts (spelling 4 days a week and grammar one) and emerging readers from Beyond though. It has worked very well. I probably could've gone with Beyond and just used lower level math and handwriting for my younger, but I like the idea of having one more year with HOD . Also, in the grand scheme of things, I didn't think it really mattered if I chose the route of trying to be advanced. They are only little for a short time and I'm not eager to send them off to college any sooner than I have to. The longer they stay home with me the better (within reason ). Although as parents, it does feel good to have an advanced kid.

For next year, I'm going with the same idea and putting them both in Bigger, but using higher level math, handwriting, and language arts (Preparing to Build) for my oldest. They will both start DITHOR level 2/3 and I'll probably let my younger do Preparing to Build also if she appears able.

Hope all that rambling made sense . Good luck. Oh yeah, prayer never hurts either. I usually figure that out after I've struggled with something far more than I should have or even needed to .

Kyle,

The reading levels on reading assessments always need to be taken with a grain of salt, as they can really vary depending on which assessment you use. However, it is an indicator that both of your kiddos are at a very similar reading level and that they would both most likely be Emerging Readers. Our Emerging Reader's Set starts around Level 2.4, so they would fit well at the beginning of that set. If you haven't had a chance to finish phonics instruction with your youngest yet, then you would want to make sure to do that before starting her in the Emerging Reader's Set. This would also give your 7 year old a chance to get started on the Emerging Reader's Set ahead of your 5 year old, so they won't be reading the same readings each day, and comparing how well they do!

I am agreement with the ladies that there are many skills to weigh when deciding on a child's readiness for our various programs. Reading level is one important facet, but an even more important facet is writing ability and higher level thinking and reasoning, which comes with maturity. To help you in thinking through this, I'll give you examples as to why maturity is necessary for Bigger Hearts. The guide requires kiddos to do daily copywork of several sentences or more directly from the Bible and from other texts. It requires drawing and labeling maps, sketching from a diagram, looking up vocabulary words in the dictionary and copying definitions, using the new word in a written sentence of their own, filling out a science lab sheet with a written guess as to how to answer a presented science question, orally narrating or retelling a chapter at a time that was read aloud, understanding the various genres (adventure, mystery, historical fiction, realistic fiction, folk tale, etc.), discussing and applying the various story elements to chapter books read aloud (character, plot, setting, mood, compare/contrast, etc.), focusing on Godly character traits and how characters show the trait or lack it within their own lives, discussing character traits based on Bible passages with higher level questions, writing in cursive, studying all the parts of speech and picking them out of sentences (noun, verb, adjective, adverbs, etc.), and doing a full-blown poetry study to find examples of rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, meter, imagery, assonance, onomotopoeia, and so on. I could go on listing the skills in Bigger Hearts, but you get the idea that any 5 year old is going to struggle with these skills and concepts simply based on maturity.

In discussing possible combining options previously, not only did I think you somehow had a 6th grader rather than a 5th grader, but I also did not realize your third oldest was only 5. I was somehow thinking that child was 6 turning 7. I went back and reread the previous thread to get my details straight. Age makes a huge difference on what kiddos are ready to do. It isn't the only indicator by any means, but it does make a big difference. I'm so glad this is clearer now, and am sorry if I derailed you a bit.

I know it can be confusing sometimes to seek the right placement for your kiddos, however it helps to look at each child individually and see where he or she is at (with all combining scenarios aside). The next step is to truly look at the skills on the placement chart to see what level of maturity and higher level thinking is required in order to complete the skill. If your kiddo is not near to the recommended age level for the guide, you'd want to rule that guide out for that child. Bigger's target age-range is 7-9. That would mean that a 5 year old or even a 6 year old would have a very tough time with the higher level skills in that particular guide.

I pray you'll find the right decision for your family and that you'll find peace in that decision! It's good to ask questions when you're unsure. The wise ladies on this board are good at helping each other talk through things to find the best fit in the end!

Blessings,
Carrie

I think that it would be hard for a 5 yo to do Bigger. There is a lot of writing in Bigger, and also narrating is considered to have been learned quite well already. The vocabulary and notebooking would also be tough, as well as the grammar. I think you would really enjoy doing Beyond with them, and Beyond would also really get them both ready for the more difficult skills in Bigger. Reading is a part of the puzzle, but there are many other things to consider also - definitely writing ability, comprehension, independence. However, taking another look at the placement chart to be sure is probably worth the time.

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you all so much! I have decided that Beyond is the best fit for the younger school girls! What Carrie just wrote confirmed it! I was looking through the first week of Bigger yesterday and thought that the vocabulary, although only three words, would be a bit much for my girls.

Thank you especially Carrie for taking the time to really lay it all down for me.

My next question is again one on Math. I know I'm just driving everyone crazy with this. I orderd the 1A 1B workbooks and started using the 1a with Sophia (5) and the 1b with Rebekah. They actually had to "think" a little more than I expected them to have to when we started using them this week. I was thinking that I would get them caught up and able to both do 2a starting next year with Beyond. I then realized that the 1a and 1b are the ones scheduled in beyond . Should I just wait until I order my guides (hopefully within the next month) and just start them together in 1a using the scheduled activities. I really wanted to use those activities, (can you tell? ) I really wanted to be able to open up the guides and use the whole thing. Plus,I have read a lot of good comments on the math activities that Carrie has planned in the guides. If we don't do them I'll feel like we're missing out.

Also, are there lists in the guides of extra materials (paper, craft/science poject items) that will be needed, or do we just look ahead to see what we will need for a particular week?

I'm so sorry I have so many questions.

Thanks and blessings,
Kyle

Kyle,

Have your girls already had a formal introduction to math? If not, they should do Earlybird Kindergarten Math 2A/2B to prepare for Singapore Primary Mathematics 1A/1B as scheduled in Beyond.

If they are already doing a formal introduction to math, then you could just finish that out for this year and start them both in Primary Math 1A/1B whenever your start your Beyond guide, especially if you want to have your math on the same page of the guide that you're teaching for the rest of the day.

If you have basic art supplies, you will be pretty much set for using our guides. You'll want clay, construction paper, white paper, paint, paintbrushes, water cups, markers, crayons, colored pencils, scissors, glue (both regular and glue sticks),etc. The rest of the supplies should be things you mainly have around your house. I just open up and teach each day.

Blessings,
Carrie