Have you made the brave decision to homeschool? Or maybe you’ve been doing it for a while but you’re wondering about the right grade placement for your child. I get it, it’s hard. When we have been in the school system, we have an understanding of “this age equals this grade level”. But what if I were to tell you that no child is actually one grade? When we are homeschooling we can have our children working where they are at. We can find what’s going to be the best fit for them academically to either push them a little bit further ahead because they are an excellent student, or to just support them because they need that extra support. This is one beautiful thing about homeschooling.

I’m not big into pushing kids ahead of where they naturally are. I find that if that is our goal then we really might be doing our children a disservice in their education. What we need are children who are thriving where they are at. 

It has almost become a trend to try to push our kids to finish school early. It starts when they’re in younger grades and we can push them ahead, but is that the right thing for them? I am not a fan of pushing our kids ahead early. We have sort of forgotten the studies that are out there showing that it can be better late than early, or that working where they are naturally at is the best thing for them. Why are we trying to have our children reading at the age of three if that is really not developmentally where they are at?

Determining the “right” grade placement for your homeschooled child can feel tricky! But it doesn’t have to be.

Consider More Than Just Age

We need to consider more than just age. We need to look at the skills of our children. There are basic skills that are vital. Once they have mastered them we can move ahead at the pace they set. 

Can they read fluently? Understand complex sentences?

Are they comfortable with basic operations in math? Can they solve word problems?

Can they write clear sentences and paragraphs?

Are they ready for the social and emotional demands of a particular grade level (even if homeschooling)?

Consider their preferred learning style (visual, auditory, kinesthetic) and choose a curriculum that aligns with it.

Use Placement Tests

If you are unsure where to start, consider using some of the different tests around. They don’t have to define your schooling but can be very helpful in determining what curriculum level. 

Many homeschool curricula offer placement tests to help you determine the best starting point for your child.

There are also standardized tests like the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills (ITBS) or the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT-10) for a more objective assessment.

Observe and Interact

Observation is a great tool for homeschooling parents. Pay close attention to your child’s interests, strengths, and weaknesses. Talk to your child about their learning – what they like and don’t like – and any challenges they may be facing.

You could even start with a few sample lessons from different grade levels to see what seems to be the best fit.

Don’t Be Afraid to Adjust

You can always adjust your child’s placement as needed throughout the year. The goal is to ensure your child is mastering the material, not necessarily adhering to a specific grade level.

Grade placement is just a guideline. Sure, as you get into highschool there are certain requirements to complete in order to graduate and then enroll in college. But the most important thing is to create a learning environment that is engaging, challenging, and supportive of your child’s individual needs. Stress less about the grade level and focus more on the skills. Of course you can just follow the age/grade pattern of the school system. But you don’t have to. Do what works for you.