Dear Grandparent,

First, God bless you for opening your home to nurture your grandchildren. Your generosity will be rewarded in this life, and in the next.

Now let's look at the advances you and your granddaughter made in just a few months this past summer:  her reading jumped two grade levels, and she was able to stay with her class!

If I understand correctly, you used the Little Angel Readers series with her last summer.  My suggestion is that you use CHC's Little Stories for Little Folks phonics program, beginning with Level A, Book 1, and progress all the way through the series.  At first glance, this may seem like a step backward, but this approach will accomplish at least two things.  Your granddaughter will likely speed through the first, and perhaps second, level, which will give her confidence.  In addition, by beginning at the beginning [and doing all the exercises] you will immediately be able to ascertain where she may have gaps that are slowing her progress.  As you notice those gaps, you will be able to teach and reinforce the skills that she is missing.  [For example, if she begins to stumble in Level B when long vowels are introduced, simply reinforce the long vowel instruction that is being taught.]

At first, you may wish to assign her two or three stories per day.  Since the first level is very basic, she can probably finish the entire first level in a few days.  [Have her read every lesson to you, so you can immediately discern problem areas.]

Continue on with the series, slowing down to one or two stories a day in the second level, or when she begins to show any sign of difficulty.  The idea is to keep up her feeling of success, and catch those weak areas right away so they can be repaired.

Using this method, she should be able to finish LSLF in about five or six weeks.  At that point, you may wish to transition her to Bigger Stories for Little Folks, which has short stories about a little boy named Greg and his escapades with his family.   [Most children find these stories interesting and funny enough to keep them reading for fun, rather than as a chore.  To get her started, you might want to read the first two stories aloud, perhaps at mealtime or bedtime.  This is usually enough exposure to leave even the most reluctant reader eager for more.]  

When she completes Bigger Stories, she may wish to continue reading practice with more adventures of Greg and his family in Devotional Stories for Little Folks, and Devotional Stories for Little Folks, Too.  

If you judge that your granddaughter would benefit from more reading and writing practice that would spill over into other subjects, she might perhaps benefit from the simple Language exercises in Language of God, Level A as well.  Again, it is better to begin at a level lower than her ability and allow her to succeed as she progresses to a more challenging level, than to begin with too challenging a level and then have to drop back because she is overwhelmed and discouraged.

Your grandchildren are blessed to be with you!

May Our Lord reward all your efforts abundantly, and grant you an extra cupful of energy!

Nancy Nicholson