I am amazed at how much Josh & Annette has improved with reading in the last two months. Two months ago I had them take an online test from "Lets go Learn" it test different parts of reading;

• High-Frequency Word Sub-test
• Word Recognition
• Phonics (Word Analysis)
• Phonics Principles Mastered. This is a total of ten boxes. The firs being short letter sounds, 2nd being vowels sounds, 3rd consonant blends and so forth. Last being Multi-Syllable words.
• Spelling
• Oral Vocabulary (Word Meaning)
• Reading Comprehension (Silent Reading)

The first time I tested Josh (4th grade) he got (and I'll put this in the same order as above):

• mid 2nd
• mid 2nd
• high 1st
• The first four boxes mastered out of the 10
• high first
• high 3rd
• low 3rd

Pretty much he was at a below 3rd grade level with reading. I had the kiddos take the test again yesterday because they have been reading so many books. Here is Joshua's test, just two months later. (same order)

• Maximum
• low 5th
• mid 4th
• all but the last box mastered
• high 1st (pretty much new his spelling wasn't going to change. We hope to bring this up)
• mid 3rd
• low 8th

Now Josh is almost at grade level with reading. Spelling he has to work on and this test does not include writing. I will have to find one for that.

Here is Annette's first test (same order as above) 2nd grade

• Maximum
• mid 3rd
• mid 4th
• mastered all but the last box
• low 2nd
• mid 3rd
• low 6th

Annette was at or above her grade level.Even though she reads a lot she was reading lots & lots. Here is her 2nd test just two months later

• mid 3rd (she actually is half a grade lower than last time. Not sure what happened with her high frequency word)
• high 8th (she went up five levels)
• maximum
• mastered all ten boxes
• low 3rd
• mid 4th
• mid 7th

What have they been reading. Most of the books have been the series called The Box Car Children and a few others that I have them read for school (history & science)

Ruth Beechick says, to have a struggling reader read books below their grade level and that is what I have been trying to do with Josh but he has not been interested in reading. He has been collecting the Box Car books for a few years but only because their covers looked interesting. Josh said that once he started reading he really enjoyed the mysteries and that is how he got started. I have him read a book here and there that is not from the Box Car series. This school year I'll add some that will challenge him more.

Annette has always been a strong reader. She is almost done with Rod & Staff Phonics 2 and she mentioned that although she doesn't like doing her phonics that it has helped her figure out words and has helped with her spelling.

I also tested Caleb & Brent and they both are at a high K level. Caleb does not like to read but hopefully in another year he'll find a series.

This really takes a load of my shoulder because of the first test Josh took he was mid third and below. His phonics where 1st to 2nd grade level. We are still going to work on his phonics but seeing that he has improved greatly has really helped me to sleep better .

If any of you have any struggling readers out there find books below their grade level that they are interested in. We get a lot from Half Price Books. In Texas we have tons of Half Price Books. This alone would be a good reason to move out here.

Hopefully next I'll get to blog about some energy boosters.

One more thing. When I test them I don't tell them about grade levels. I will mention that we need to work on his/her spelling. I'll comment on how well they did, but I will not say "you are at such & such level". I don't want them comparing.

Blessings,

Linda<><

Email me at Homeschooling6[At]hotmail[Dot]com.