If you are already a homeschooling parent, you have probably been asked what grade your child is in. While my children are mostly working at specific grade levels, some subjects are at one grade level while others are at another. For history and science, I don’t follow any specific grade level curriculum. History is at the elementary school level and science is at the college level for all three of my children who are currently between the ages of 8.5 and 13.
Even though I prefer allowing my children to work at their own paces, it is important to me that they stay close enough to grade level that they could easily enter the school system should circumstances occur that would require our family to make that change.
In addition, I am preparing my oldest son for the American College Test (ACT) and will do the same with my younger two. It is important to me that they stay close to grade level for math and languages arts so that if they want to attend college, they will be on track to attend by or before age 18.
You may share some of my reasons for knowing your homeschooled child’s grade level or you may live in a state where your child is tested to ensure that he or she is at grade level. No matter your reason for wanting to know, there are several ways you can determine your children’s grade level without having them formally tested.
How to Determine a Homeschooler’s Grade Level
If it is important to you to know your homeschooled children’s grade levels or to ensure that they are keeping up with the standards in your state, there are several ways to find out.
1. What Your Nth Grader Needs to Know
This series of books starts with preschool and goes through 6th grade. Each book is packed with information on what children should know about various subjects in that grade level.
If you need a guide to help you create your own curriculum or to cover anything your current curriculum might leave out, these books are what you need. I found these books valuables for knowing what pieces of literature to make sure my children were exposed to each year.
The Spectrum Workbooks are great for testing your children on their knowledge of certain subject areas within a grade level or as a test prep if you have to test in your state.
I find the spectrum workbooks to be so thorough that some years I have used them exclusively for reading comprehension, math, spelling, vocabulary, writing and language arts. They really cover everything your child needs to know and provide both pre- and post tests to accurately place your child if needed.
If you are new to homeschooling and aren’t sure what grade level to place your child in, try these placement tests from Calvert. You don’t have to send them in or join Calvert, but you can get a good idea of the areas were your child is not at grade level.
4. Your State’s Department of Education Learning Standards
Go to your state’s Department of Education website and check out the learning standards listed there. That will give you some insight into what is expected of children at certain grade levels and will let you know if you child is ahead, behind or at grade level for a particular area.
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