HOMESCHOOL AND DISTANCE LEARNING
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Choosing an Age Level

Beyond the Page uses age ranges instead of grades, offering more flexibility in choosing the right level for your homeschooler. However, it can sometimes be tricky to determine the best fit. This guide will help you choose the best homeschool curriculum level for your child.

1
Start in the middle of an age range
For instance, if your child is nine, start with the Age 8-10 level. For a seven-year-old, begin with the Age 6-8 level. This approach will work well for most kids.
2
Evaluate reading and writing levels
Assess both reading and writing skills, and go with the lower level. When a child reads above grade level, writing skills usually determine the best curriculum fit. To evaluate readiness, review the language arts requirements for each age group.
3
Take a Placement Assessment
If you're still unsure, try one of our placement assessments. These take 30-45 minutes and come with rubrics and guides to help you evaluate your child's progress and choose the best age level. For math and reading, you can review the relevant placement questionnaire.

* Most families use the same level for language arts, science, and social studies.

Age Level Requirements

Choose an age level to view its requirements.

Age 8-10
Language Arts Requirements
  • Able to read and comprehend chapter books at a 4th or 5th grade reading level
  • Able to write an organized paragraph
  • Usually used by children in fourth grade
Math Requirements
  • Can add and subtract four-digit numbers
  • Able to multiply fluently within 100
  • Can identify, create, and compare simple fractions
  • Able to explain and find perimeter and area of simple polygons
  • Usually used by children in the fourth grade

Videos

Overview
Learn more about the Age 8-10 level, see what makes it unique, and look at many of the projects you will finish over the year.
10 minutes
Unboxing Age 8-10
See everything that is included in the Age 8-10 Full Year Package.
9 minutes
 

Exceptions

  1. If you have a precociously gifted child, you may determine to advance them to the next age level. These are only general guidelines, and children that are precociously gifted will not fall within these general categories.
  2. When we select the books for our literature units, we have advanced learners in mind. For this reason, our books have a reading level that is high for the ages provided. It is very possible, for example, for a 5th or 6th grader to benefit from the literature units of the Age 8-10 level, or for a 4th or 5th grader to benefit from the Age 7-9 literature units. If the books or topics are of interest to your child, you should feel free to use them.