Capabilities by level

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

5 years and older. Not yet reading, still learning how to follow directions in a group setting, and developing fine motor skills (coloring, pasting, cutting). Ready for letter and number recognition, phonics, pre-reading activities (picture matching) and reading readiness. Students will enter with a need to focus on learning letter sounds, identification of capital and lowercase letters, and number recognition. Much of the class time will be devoted to interactive play, where the reading and number learning will take place. Letter sounds are fundamental to beginning reading, and letter identification to beginning spelling. The student will exit this level able to correctly identify and sound out all letters, and recognize numbers 1-20. The student will also typically be independently sounding out (reading) some CVC words.

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

6-8yo. Children who are not yet reading, but can sound out three-letter CVC words and can read simple decodable text, such as Bob Books. Grammar B students have a knowledge of all letter sounds and names, and numerals 1-20. These students are able to follow instructions in a group setting, including group games; and are able to listen to stories and focus their attention on the story or task for a 10-15 minute span. They can color, cut, and paste simple projects under teacher guidance. They are ready to begin simple memory work in history, geography, math and science, through games and activities. While some history, math and science will be included, the majority of class time will be devoted to activities that increase literacy. Phonics Pathways will be used at school and at home to teach reading. The student will exit this level understanding basic phonics rules, correctly sounding out all blends, digraphs and dipthongs, and having mastered Phonics Pathways.

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

7-9yo. Students will enter having mastered all of the basic phonics rules as taught in Phonics Pathways, and able to independently read early reader books. Whereas the bulk of class time is devoted to building reading skills in levels A and B, in level C only about 1/3 of class time is devoted to building reading fluency. Level C students may need to partner-read some history and science assignments with parent. They can write sentences, including copywork, and are ready for some memory work in science, history and geography. They can follow simple written instructions and work on projects with greater independence.

As a reference for reading level, here are examples of books that a student ready to exit Grammar C would read independently: “Afternoon on the Amazon” (Magic Tree House Series); “Marco? Polo!” (Time Warp Tri series); “Dingoes At Dinnertime”; “Amber Brown is not a Crayon.” Students are ready for Grammar D level if they can independently read books at the 2.9 (end of 2nd grade) reading level, as listed at www.arbookfind.com.

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

8-10yo. More competent readers, able to read independently. Beginning to read for information and answer comprehension questions. Can be given more at-home writing and reading assignments.

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

9-11yo. Can read for information and recall text information days later. Complete written comprehension questions and participate in verbal review. Can follow sequential instructions. Ready for more hands-on science projects that require close following of directions.

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

10-12yo. Level F students can independently read chapter books, reference books, and texts; they can retain the material to discuss in class; and can be guided to analyze their reading in search of themes and life applications. Primarily concrete thinkers but beginning to make connections and inferences. Level F is the stepping off point for Logic level classes, where the students are expected to read more difficult material and analyze more; so, in Level F the students are being expected to assume more individual responsibility for their work and their learning. Ready to learn to write a solid, logically-organized expository paragraph.

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

11-13yo. (equiv. 7th gr.) Beginning to be abstract thinkers, and to question the meaning and interpretation of information. Expected to read and digest written material independently, and to participate in discussions based on the readings. Ready to read and understand science textbooks, not more juvenile science resources; to read literature readers rated 7th-8th grade and to discuss themes and morals; and to learn to write a three-paragraph essay.

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

12-14yo. (equiv. 8th gr.) Capable of reading and comprehending material at the level of average newspaper article. Will read texts, primary source material, and literature rated at the 8th-9th grade level. Will be assigned presentations and projects based on independent reading and research. Class discussions and debates will require some basic analysis of information and arguments, to compare them to student's worldview. Will write the standard five-paragraph essay and a research paper.

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

13-15yo. "High school" students will enjoy group learning in college-prep classes. Class time will offer extensive discussion and presentation of ideas, values, and analysis. Rhetoric stage is the transition from understanding and comparing information to communicating one's response and worldview. Students must be ready to discuss the importance and implications of various historical events, trace the rise of western civilizations, write responses to assigned reading, conduct lab experiments (at TCC), study a science text, read adult level historical fiction and other material, and write a research paper.

Demonstrated Capabilities / Age Range

15-17yo.