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What grade?
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This question is more for my ds almost 7 than it is for me. He wants to know what grade he’s in. We started our homeschoolong journey 2 years ago in December. I was not familiar with CM, so I tried my best to follow kindergarten guidelines for my state (Texas). Once I discovered SCM, I just started following the curriculum guide.
I think he has this sudden curiosity about which grade he’s in because he doesn’t have any homeschooling friends. Whenever he is with his friends at church or even just meeting someone new, he always asks and is always asked back, “what grade are you in?”
I know this shouldn’t be a big deal, but I don’t know how to answer his question. And I want him to be able to answer his friends or other curious adults honestly.
Isn’t this a silly question!?
Anyway, we have finished the Year 1 literature, poetry, picture studies and composer studies. He has completed the Year 1 readers, Days Go By and More Days Go By. He is almost finished with Alpha in MathUSee. And we have 2 full years of home education under our belts. So, do you think he is classified “1st grade” or “2nd grade”? Like I said, I really don’t care which it is because grade makes no difference to me. But I told him I would try to figure it out. Ha!
Thanks!
Lindsey
Hi Lindsey,
We usually tell others that our kids work at different grade levels for different subjects, but that if they were in public school they would be in grade ________ based on their age. I’m not sure if that’s the best answer, but it’s what we use.
Gaeleen
It’s not a silly question in light of the fact that it has to be dealt with as a reality. People are used to ‘grade lvels’ for children when engaging in conversation. My children asked me the same thing a couple of years ago (about the same age as yours) because adults ask, too. I also had to get my dd to stop saying “we don’t go to school” when she’s obviously of school age! That made her and us sound like a bunch of dunces!
So anyway, back to your question, what we do is a variety of answers-the children sometimes say “we’re homeschooled and we do work according to our ability, whatever mom gives us because we don’t really have grade levels” or “we’re homeschooled so I (my son, whose 10) do some 4th and some 5th and I (my dd,whose 9) do mostly 3rd with some 4th” and since I’m usually there, esp. when adults ask, I’ll add in that I don’t teach according to grades, as that’s a gov’t school creation, but according to their capabilities. I always get a positive response from that one.
I’ve allowed one situation of an adult sort of ‘test’ my children, you could say (a non-relative, because my relatives don’t do that) and I will never allow that again.
Rachel
For a quick answer I just go by age, so he is 2nd this year. Next year we will have a kindy and 3rd grader. I don’t feel most people need to know we do some first grade work this year and some second and a little third grade science.
i would just tell them 1st grade. He is doing most of his stuff on a first grade level and that is also the age appropriate grade.
My youngest DD just turned 5. I tell her she is Preschool, though she is more than half way through the MUS Primer, reads at a middle to end of 1st grade level, participates in my gr. 1 DD’s Bible/geography/history and her science.
For simplicity’s sake for church programs, sports leagues and such, we just go according to age, as in what grade he would be in public school with other kids his age. This year that’s 2nd grade. I don’t really discuss his actual working levels with very many folks, but with a few mom friends I’ll get into that he’s doing math at this level, reading at that level, etc. But for most that much detail is not necessary. HTH. 🙂
Melissa
we do the same thing. we just go by what grade they would be in public school. i figure this will make it easier when they graduate high school and are applying to college, etc…
Lindsey – To keep it simple I always told people they were in the age appropriate grade for whatever age they were at the time of asking. I actually object to the question in some ways, because it usually comes from people who know little about homeschooling and who have no real idea how it works. I like Racel get extremely annoyed when people wanted to test my children when they were younger – never family always people we did not know well – I would not dream of doing that to a PS student and I think it unfair. As the girls got older and were reading well ahead of grade level – I would say they were working ahead in whatever it was, and I was always honest about math not being their strong suit and that they worked at grade level for that. So all in all I would tell him to say whatever you want – if it makes him more comfortable to use a grade similar to his peers, then let him do that. Children learn different things in different schools, so it does not matter if he is not doing the exact same work. Right now our girls should be done with school this year – but with illness and the extra year we had to take because we lost a year to hurricane Katrina, we have chosen to give them extra time to be fair to them. All sorts of people ask questions and look at us disapprovingly, but I don’t really care – we know what we are doing is right, and we have always walked to a different drummer – so I no longer let it bother me. One of our neighbors is relentless about when they are graduating, I just smile and say when we are ready, lol. Linda
My son was asked this question a couple of months ago… and looked at me questioningly… so I told him he was in grade 2… then at the questioning look I had from the person asking (a cashier I think…) I just said that we are homeschooling and he hadn’t been asked the question before.
That said… this is asked on our notification forms for homeschooling… and I get to wondering what I should be putting on there in the future… They already have the child’s age from another spot on the form… Doing Milestones Academy, we would probably be finished high school at about the age he would be grade 9 or 10 (unless there are delays, changes, life….) – and so at some point it seems that for this form it doesn’t make sense to just put the grade that he would be in according to his age only… And yes, the idea of grade really doesn’t match reality. He is doing history, etc that I didn’t do until high school, or at all for some of it (although I would have done a more sophisticated version) Math is probably about right on… reading I think he is ahead, but is having a few issues that we are working on… science, who knows… etc etc… So why do they ask on the form???
Isn’t it funny how we don’t necessarily ask college students what specific “grade” or year they are in, only discussing things in general terms like undergraduate or graduate….or master’s or doctorate? It would be so nice if the non-homeschooling public would be satisfied with terms that weren’t so specific to a numbered grade level….even better if they were willing to engage in a meaningful dialogue about children progressing according to their abilities.
Sue
It looks like we all agree on how annoying it is sometimes for non-homeschoolers and “curious” adults to ask our children what grade they’re in. That was one reason why I posted the question. When asked, my son always looks up at me, as if to say, “What am I supposed to say, mom?” Like most of your children, he is at different “grade levels” for different subjects. Reading, he’s probably at a fourth grade level. Math, second grade. Writing, first grade. History, who knows?? I just don’t know how to explain to him that we operate on a different system than the rest of his friends do.
Like suzukimom said, my children will probably be finishing up state-required studies long before they are 18, although that doesn’t mean school will end then. I’ll still have lots to teach and hopefully they’ll have lots more they want to learn.
Anyway, you’ve all helped me out a lot. I feel I can give my son a clearer answer so he’s not so confused when the kid he meets at the museum wants to know what grade he’s in.
I’ve also encountered an unusual situation (well, for us anyway) recently. My kids and I are helping to serve lunch at a very small, Christian preschool two days per week (a wonderful opportunity for them to learn to serve younger children). One of the teachers point-blank asked my kids, “So you get to skip school to help us up here, huh?” My children just stared at her. They have no idea what the phrase “skip school” even means! They probably thought it had something to do with skipping during school time! ha!
I was very taken aback at her question to them. And I wanted to say, “Actually, they’ve already been read to for over an hour today, memorized a poem and a Bible verse, my son did three second-grade-level math papers, and oh by the way, he’s six, my daughter read two chapters of her own book to me this morning, we have admired the art of Carl Larsson this morning, and we enjoyed a little Chopin in the car on the way here, and we all had a wonderful time singing hymns and preparing breakfast together!”
Alas, I did not say any of that, but I could tell my kids were really confused by her remarks. I simply smiled, and said, “No, they didn’t get to skip school. They’re mostly finished for the day, and they have all afternoon to play and rest.”
I know you have already received many answers and have come to a great conclusion, but I thought I’d add my .02.
My oldest did go to ps for two years, so he is very familiar with grade levels, plus most people we know talk in those terms (kids at church, sports, etc. that are not homeschooled). So, needless to say, he prefers to go by some type of grade level or at least to know what to say to people who are just asking to make conversation (not those really interested in a discussion). He and I would like to at least sound like we understood the question even if we know it is more for their benefit then ours. I have felt judged for our decision enough as it is without having strangers (or family) ask a simple question only to have my bright homeschooler look like they have no idea what the person just said:) I don’t have time to explain to people skill abilities, etc., especially if they aren’t really interested anyhow.
I have explained to my boys that it’s rather difficult to put a grade level on everything (especially a homeschooler whose interests really can be explored) when you’re involved or exposed to so many great things. How do you put a grade level on karate, sports, pottery, etc. Those have ‘skill’ levels. That’s what I say anyway. But, in the event they really just want to have an answer I tell them they are in 2nd-3rd grade (my 8yo) and 6th for my oldest. My 5yo is Pre-K or K.
And this is coming from someone that was a die-hard public school parent.
Suzukimom,
I would check with your state regarding the asking of a grade on your HS’ling form. It may not be lawful. Many counties have sent out forms that ask unlawful questions. In GA., it is unlawful to ask grade level; only age and name, but our county’s (and others) form requested the grade (and name of “school”), which was unlawful. So I didn’t use the County’s Declaration but a proper form. This is all Ga requires by law-This declaration must include the names and ages of students, the location of the home school, and the time the parents designate as their school year. Ga. Code Ann. � 20-2-690(c)(2).
I would suggest finding out exactly what the laws of your state require; that way you’re not giving them more than is lawfully required. Personally, I want them to have the most minimal of info., while the gov’t. likes to be sneaky and get as much as they can. If I may ask: what state are you in?
Rachel
Thanks Rachel
I’m actually in Manitoba, Canada
from a Summary of the legislation, it says (bolding mine…)
260.1 (3)Within 30 days after a home school is first established and on or before September 1 in each year, the parent or guardian shall provide the minister with the following information:
(a) the name and birth date of each pupil in the school;
(b) the name of the school or school division each child would otherwise attend; and
(c) an outline of the education program and grade level for each pupil.hm – I’m noticing that the government website has changed the options for curriculum for homeschooling from what I remember…. not sure I like this. The option we were using is gone…. there is an option that we still fit under, but still not sure I like it….
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