Do you have certain things that you require dc to know before "graduating" to next

[dorothy]

grade? We finish our books every year and I have always done an open house and celebrated their "graduation."

This year, I have given my dc checklists of things they must KNOW before moving on.

I am wondering if anyone else does this and if you would share.

Thanks.

[Beth in Central TX]

I think I go about this a different way. I set up goals; long-term for where I want them to be when they graduate, and short-term for where I want them to be at the end of each year. Then I purchase books to accomplish the goals I have set. We don't move forward in their books until the last concept was mastered, so once the subject has been completed, then they should have met the goals I set.

[Narrow Gate Academy]

I set up goals here as well and require mastery of a concept before moving on to the next one. Some goals are concrete like mastering the concepts presented in the math book I've chosen. Some goals I leave more open ended because I am uncertain of how much we can accomplish. For example this year I wanted to see improvement in my DD handwriting, pencil grip, and length of time she could spend writing. I didn't set an exact standard, but I've tried hard to keep challenging her in this area so I feel confident that by the end of the year we will have made as much progress as she is capable of for the year. Generally, by the end of the year, we have met all of my concrete goals; and I feel comfortable with our progress in the more open ended areas. I consider that to be the equivalent of graduating although we don't have a special celebration. (My kids consider a break from school reward enough for a hard year's work.)

[Laura Corin]

No - on September 1st each year, the boys pass into the next grade. I see grades as being a definition of age, not scholastic level. We are usually in the middle of at least some of our books (ahead or behind). I keep an eye on it, and address any issues, but it's not a major concern.

Best wishes

Laura