Hi:
I just reviewed some of the recommended books for LG, and they seem too easy for my 7 year-old daughter. She is a fluent reader, but a very early writer. Can I have her read her UG brother's books, and keep her level 2 for writing?
Thanks for your input.

Yes, that works. It might be the best course for your daughter. Before you decide what to do, though, consider a few things:

- Not just the reading level, but also the intellectual difficulty and the emotional challenges increase between levels. So some of the UG books may have words she can read, but concepts that pass her completely by, bore her, or upset her. Reading level is just one consideration.

- Even the LG books can at times be difficult for fluent readers. I have a 7yo fluent reader, but I often find that I need to read his books with him - not so he will understand the words, but so we can discuss the content of the books as we go, to increase his interest and his understanding. This varies, of course, with the subject being covered.

What I do in this way is to keep my 7yo at the LG level. I might do that for third grade, too, I don't know yet. But I give him fun reading on top of the Tapestry literature. That way his schoolwork doesn't expect too much of him, yet he's still getting the reading challenge that he needs. At this stage, I really want the Tapestry to be fun rather than a drag, to whet his appetite.

You can decide as you go, too: let them share some books, but not others, depending on the books.

Thanks for your input. I guess that I will have to feel as I go. This is her first year in Homeschool, and there are lots of things to adjust too. Thanks for the suggestion of adding other "fun" reading too. She really likes the Beverly Cleary books, and she has plowed her way through about half of them this summer.

I had a very high level reading 2nd grader last year, also. I did many many books out of the UG level. Her writing, however, was certainly NOT high level (I'm referring to penmanship, not ability to create paragraphs, etc.) Because her penmanship was bad and she was so slow, I stuck to the LG writing assignments from Writing Supplements at Level 2, using Writing Aids (I LOVE IT!) as my guide, but did as many of the UG books I could get. I do know that the Hakim books for Colonial America were too hard for her, but the rest were fine. However, I must add to that by saying that for the last two years we have had no funds to buy books and many of the UG books were not available by ILL after we moved in mid-year. So, at least for Units 1 & 2, the UG books worked well. For Units 3 & 4 I can't tell you much except that the Hakim books were too hard.

If I could make a recommendation, I'd use BOTH levels if you can get them through the library or can afford it. My students enjoyed the LG levels, also, and I was able to get many of those through the library. The LG books served to provide basic information in a book that was very easy, and I think that really helped with retention. Just because she CAN read the UG books doesn't mean she GRASPS everything they're saying, as BLT pointed out. I think the LG books helped illuminate the UG books.

I have 3 coming after her, so now that we can buy some books I can easily justify buying both levels of books this year. And, I actually *DO* have a rising 1st grader now, so I'll be doing her at LG level, and easing my 3rd grader into a more complete UG level, but sticking with Level 3 of Writing Supplements.

HTH!
Deanna

Thanks for the advice. I have a UG too, so I'll have all his books to share. We have a great Library system, and I was able to get about 80% of the Lg and UG books from there, even reserving them online! Isn't technology wonderful!!