“So what grade are you in?”
Has your homeschooler ever been asked that question? Was it followed by, “Mom, what grade AM I in?” Nothing shouts “I’m a homeschooler” more than a student’s hesitation to that question. I used to explain, “Well, in the youth group you’re in 8th, but you’re doing 7th grade math, you play on the J.V basketball team,…” etc.
When we began the homeschool journey, we decided to start kindergarten as my son turned 6 years old rather than 5, since he had a July birthday. As the years went on he worked ahead in some subjects, stayed right on grade level for others, and always kept math a level “behind.” When he was in middle school it became obvious to our family that he would thrive best in a co-op class where he was a grade level ahead. It turned out to be the best decision based on his maturity and readiness to begin high school with his peers.
As a homeschool counselor we get calls from our families asking about “skipping” a grade, or “repeating” a grade, and what we recommend is best. From personal experience, that decision will always be a case-by-case consideration. We would love to discuss the pros and cons with you, and help you decide what might work best for your student.
However, we generally recommend that students remain at their age-appropriate grade level, but that you take advantage of the flexibility and freedom of home education by tailoring their curriculum to meet your students where they are. If they are in 8th grade by age, needing to move at a slower pace in Math, and are excelling in English, that is fine! If they are soaking up Science, and want to dive deeper into that study, great! Going deeper, not faster, can be very beneficial. We sometimes see that your advanced elementary student may slow down a bit around adolescence. Their body and brain catch up to each other’s level, and that is a great time to reevaluate where they are academically. Burnout can happen if a child is excelling rapidly, but hit a point where they need to slow down.
Some other facets to consider would be the appropriate grade for milestones like driving, and what their age would be at graduation. 16-year-olds may have the credits for graduation if they completed early high school courses or began high school at a younger age, but are they emotionally mature enough to enter a college or workplace setting?
Likewise, if your student needs to slow down and build some foundational skills before moving on to the next level of curriculum, please allow them to do so. If they are within a year or two of their grade level with the curriculum, they can remain in their age-appropriate grade and work on the curriculum level that will benefit them the most. Slow and steady has been said to “win the race,” after all.
If you feel that your student is showing signs of academic struggle, we have a wonderful team of counselors who are happy to help talk through your education plans.
Whether you have a fast track learner, a slow and steady student, or a mix somewhere in between, remember that the freedom and flexibility of home education is designed to meet your student where they are and to give them a true love of learning. So next time they get asked that infamous “what grade are you in” question, they can confidently tell someone about how homeschooling comes with a custom-made education plan for each and every unique student.
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