Comments on: Stepping Outside the Grade-Level Box

By: Billie K. Echols

Billie K. Echols

Sarah, I loved your post! Stepping outside the traditional grade-level box is such an important approach to fostering creativity and personalized learning. It’s refreshing to see how you encourage breaking away from rigid standards to better support each child’s unique needs. What’s one strategy you’ve found most effective in helping students thrive outside the typical grade-level expectations?

By: How to know if you're doing enough - Simple Homeschool

How to know if you're doing enough - Simple Homeschool

[…] feel fairly confident that you’ll be homeschooling long-term or for several years, release those artificially-made grade levels and live outside the box. You’re free! Embrace whatever methods suit you and […]

By: Jamie C. Martin

Jamie C. Martin

In reply to Mary Alvarado.

Hi Mary! This article could be a help to you with your grand niece: https://simplehomeschool.net/homeschooling-101-whatandwhen/

Wishing you all the best!

By: Mary Alvarado

Mary Alvarado

In reply to Natalia. I need to home school my grand neice and would be greatful for any advise on the subject. My grand neice is supposed to be going into the seventh grade but is very behind in her studies, I probably will start with 2nd & 3rd grade work to get her in the know and go from there.

By: 10 ways you're making your homeschool day harder than it needs to be

10 ways you're making your homeschool day harder than it needs to be

[…] 8. Refusing to step outside the grade level box. […]

By: DIY Summer Activities, Backyard Volcano

DIY Summer Activities, Backyard Volcano

[…] This lesson will also give you an idea why if you were to ask our kids (and many homeschoolers) what grade they are in you are likely to get a blank stare, or else a response that makes no sense to you (as in the 6 year old saying “I’M IN SEVENTH GRADE” and the middle schooler turning to their mom and saying “Uh, mom, what grade am I in?” lol! (If you are still tripping over grade levels READ THIS ARTICLE). […]

By: Grade Level? | California Desert Homeschoolers

Grade Level? | California Desert Homeschoolers

[…] http://simplehomeschl.wpengine.com/stepping-outside-the-grade-level-box/ […]

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth

From my experience I am looking for options before I have a child as my father was held back by his parents while his teachers desperately warned them to put him in advanced schooling. According to my mother I was reading by age one and writing soon after and took an active interest in math and science early on. In fact my earliest memory around 2-3 was working out “games” problems on the LSAT, because my mother had those tests laying around, and i took an early interest in solving those types of logic problems. My mom did everything she could to help me, but didn’t know what to do other than fake a birth certificate to get me into a higher grade level because the public education system refused to allow a younger member into a higher grade. This did very little since one grade level was not nearly enough to make a difference, and while I was supposed to be in 1st grade, and “illegally” in 2nd, I was still working on 6th grade workbooks in the back of the class, which honestly were STILL too easy for me. Finally my mom learned about the GATE program which back then required an IQ test and actually meant something. Thus, it was actually somewhat effective. I know now that the GATE program is a joke because anyone can get his or her child into the program. As an engineer and attorney, i don’t want to give up my job when my child is ready for school (which will be around 2 at the latest), and my husband plans to keep his job as well. I am thus looking for that perfect homeschool program that allows my children to learn at their own paces while also allowing my husband and I to work (while being flexible in our schedules to pick them up and drive them to other areas when necessary). The likelihood is my children will be done with normal schooling by age 8 or 10 at the latest, and possibly earlier. However I often just read about the benefits of homeschooling from the perspective of being able to work at your own pace. But I know many cultures use homeschooling to expedite the painfully and ridiculously slow process of normal schooling in the United States. I am looking for those people, the ones who use homeschooling to advance their children’s studies and avoid a huge waste of time sitting in the public school system and letting their children decay away during the most impotant time of their development. If anyone who actually fits this profile has advice on homeschooling programs to join I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

By: Hope

Hope

In reply to Kimberly. Childrens Classics, like Anne of Green Gables, The Secret Garden, The Indian in the Cupboard, My daughter was fond of The Babysitters Club and Boxcar Children at that age. Hope this helps.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly

In reply to Christina Pilkington.

Hi Christina!
I know this post is several years old but I thought I would chance a rely from you anyway. When your daughter was reading the chapter books at 5, did you find it difficult to supply her with reading material that would challenge her, yet wasn’t full of mature situations and characters? Can you recommend any good chapter books for a 5 1/2 year old, that still are relatively innocent in their content? Thanks and God Bless! 🙂