Getting Level 3 ready to go this year was incredibly easy. In fact, I questioned about even writing this post because you truly do not have to prep ANYTHING for Level 3. But I thought I would share the little extras I am doing for Jacob this year in language arts.
Step 1: Answer Key
This was a first for me – but I printed off the answer key for this level. Normally, it’s been pretty quick to just skim over Jacob’s answers to check them. But with balancing more kiddos this year – and Jacob’s work getting more difficult – I thought I would save myself some brain power and print off the answer key.
This is FREE to download on The Good and the Beautiful website.
I simply printed it off, laminated the back and front covers, and bound it together. I have a feeling I am really going to be glad I did this!
Step 2: My Book of Stories and Writings
If you’ve done any of the previous language arts levels – you should have one of these already. That is the case for us. We simply have a binder and each year Jacob is adding to it. It is so fun {and REWARDING} to look through this now that Jacob has a couple years under his belt.
At the beginning of the year, I just have Jacob make a new cover page saying what grade he is now and whatever drawings or things he wants to do and then add things behind it. We keep it easy but it is truly a keepsake.
Also, as an add on to this, Jacob also started a “Poetry Anthology” binder back in Level K. We continue that the same way we do his Book of Stories and Writings. He simply adds to it every year, whatever poems he memorizes or writes. I may end up combining these two together, but right now they are separate.
Step 3: Reading Log
I started doing this for Jacob last year and it was really successful and so I am continuing it with him and did one with Sarah as well {Level K Prep here}.
— Let me just add in here some thoughts on homeschooling supplies —
Some have wondered whether you need to have a laminator to homeschool. Do you need one – no. Should you have one – YES! They really aren’t that expensive and I believe they save you loads of money down the line because things stay nicer and so you don’t have to replace them. I’ve had the same one for over five years and it is still working like a charm – and it definitely gets WORKED!
Also, buying a binding system was also really helpful for me. If you are planning on homeschooling long-term I would say it is 100% worth it. I save loads of money a year being able to bind things together at home. I prefer it over binders because they are less bulky and more space is always a good thing for me. Plus, it just looks nice and clean. I use a proclick and LOVE it. (I tried to look online for a link – I bought mine on amazon about two years ago – but the version I have is far more expensive now and only seems to be available used. I originally bought mine for about $70).
Last, if you have an HP Printer I would recommend HP Instant Ink to ANYONE! It is a subscription so you sign up how many pages you want to be able to print a month. The great thing is that it is super easy to change your subscription around. So in my heavy prepping months {like right now} I bump my subscription up. And all I have to do is log into my account and drop it back down once my printing goes down again. Super easy. ALSO you can print in either black or color – it doesn’t make any difference in price. AND your unused pages roll over every month! AND they simply mail you your ink cartridges and I have never been in need of one {they seem to send you them a cycle ahead of when you need them}. It’s awesome, I love it, and it saves me lots of money!
— Now onto the prepping… 😜 —
The reading log is super easy to put together. I simply make a chart with a space for the title, author, and ticket #. When Jacob finishes a book, he simply adds it to his chart.
Behind the reading log, I print off the level that Jacob is in from The Good and the Beautiful Book List {it’s FREE and amazing}.
Most of the books have a “Point” value, and I tweak the list slightly to show tickets and how much they get based on their age. I also add a ticket value if there isn’t one.
Jacob really enjoyed this last year. It’s especially great when we go to the library because he will just bring his list and then he can find books that he wants to read.
Next, I add our ticket rewards page. I keep these awards pretty simple and mostly about experiences and things we can do together.
We do our language arts lessons Monday – Thursday, so Friday is our TICKET DAY. Jacob goes through whatever new books he has added to his log and tells me a little about them. Also, in his reading log is a page that lists some questions to get him going {he tends to need more prompts}. I don’t ask him all of them and it’s pretty informal.
Once he tells me about the books, I give him his tickets. He either saves them up or can trade them in.
It’s been a great motivation for him and is really quite simple to put together.
And you are…DONE!
SUPER EASY…am I right?!
Everything gets put into this pouch and that way Jacob has everything he needs to do language arts. This is great for organization and really helps him to stay focused.
And the wonderful thing is that once you do these easy steps, there is truly nothing you have to do the rest of the year. You simply pull out your course book and follow along. I love love love that about this curriculum.
To find other language arts courses and how we prep them, click below:
