Choosing the Right Age Level

A child's biological age does not always correlate with his "readiness" - a child's ability to comprehend a concept or develop a skill. Because of this, Moving Beyond the Page is not structured around grade levels - Kindergarten, First Grade, etc. Instead, it is structured around recommended age levels. The age level suggests the recommended age of children using the curriculum. Note that each age level (ex: 5-7 Years) represents one full academic year (~ 36 weeks) of curriculum.

Moving Beyond the Page is a challenging curriculum designed to stretch children. The goal of education is not that a child gets all the right answers. It is more important that he become an independent thinker, be introduced to new skills, and understand complex ideas. Being successful in this curriculum does not mean that your child will get all the "right answers", but rather that you see your child thinking and learning. A child that receives 100% on every activity is likely not being stretched. Conversely, a student who is constantly frustrated is probably working in a curriculum that is too advanced.

Guidelines for Choosing Curriculum

Age 5-7 Curriculum
General Guidelines Gifted 5 Year Old On Grade Level 6 Year Old Below Grade Level 7 Year Old	Prerequisites Know letters and their sounds. Beginning to sound out consonant-vowel-consonant words. Recognize and understand numbers 1-10.
Age 6-8 Curriculum
General Guidelines Gifted 6 Year Old On Grade Level 7 Year Old Below Grade Level 8 Year Old	Prerequisites Able to read and comprehend simple picture books (i.e. a Dr. Suess book such as Cat in the Hat). Able to write simple sentences independently. Recognize, understand, and write numbers 1-100.
Age 7-9 Curriculum
General Guidelines Gifted 7 Year Old On Grade Level 8 Year Old Below Grade Level 9 Year Old	Prerequisites Able to read and comprehend chapter books on a 3rd or 4th grade reading level (i.e. Sarah, Plain and Tall by Patricia MacLachlan). Can answer comprehension questions about a chapter in a journal. Able to write three or four sentences on a topic.
Age 8-10 Curriculum
General Guidelines Gifted 8 Year Old On Grade Level 9 Year Old Below Grade Level 10 Year Old	Prerequisites Able to read and comprehend chapter books at a 4th or 5th grade reading level (i.e. Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder). Able to write an organized paragraph.
Age 9-11 Curriculum
General Guidelines Gifted 9 Year Old On Grade Level 10 Year Old Below Grade Level 11 Year Old	Prerequisites Able to read and comprehend novels at a late 5th or 6th grade reading level. Able to write multiple paragraphs on a topic.

Exceptions

• 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.
• 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 8-10, or for a 4th or 5th grader to benefit from the 7-9 literature units. If the books or topics are of interest to your child, you should feel free to use them.