I would say he’s right on track, there’s a 2nd grade child in the gifted program at our local school across the street and he can’t do most of those things. It sounds like he’s at a late 2nd/early 3rd grade level. Most kids in schools don’t learn the states until 4th grade, and all most of them know about George Washington is that “he’s that president guy who chopped down the cherry tree.”

If you google your state and “education standards”, you should be able to find what your state recommends.

Edit…Wounded Duck, you obviously know nothing about it, or you’d know that she’s already far above what the schools would be teaching. Maybe you could find out facts before you throw out judgmental comments based on stereotypes?

well eighth grade is for most schools a transitional year, the move from pre-algebra to algebra is good ( \none of this y=mx+b stuff anymore) try looking into local curriculums from VA. That way you’ll be sure to be in the right place. Ask what books they use. This will help a lot in many smaller districts where there is only 1 or two major feeder schools. Tthe variation from district to district can also make a big difference. If there is a better district nearby, you can have yourself zoned for that district for a fee or something. Non-religious private schools are also an option. They may be expensive, but if the public school system is anything like you say, private school attendance will be high and thus the price (relatively) low. Diverse forms of education look good on a resume.

The website for your local School Board should have the State Standards for you to use as a guide. I recommend finding either at your local library or buying it at the bookstore a book called ‘What your (insert grade) needs to know’ by The Core Knowledge Series. The website is www.coreknowledge.org. The series goes up to 6th grade.

The joy of homeschool is that the child learns at His/Her pace, not the pace that Joe Schmo thinks is important….mine is in 3rd grade and is all over the board.

Here is the World Book Curriculum guide:

http://www.worldbook.com/wb/Students?curriculum/grade2

Your state board of education should have the state standards posted online, or available.

You can do some online testing such as:

Classic Home Page

You could also administer a standardized test like the ITBS (Iowa Test of Basic Skills) or CAT-5.

Here is a place that supplies the CAT-5

http://thurbers.net/teatests.html

If you have a bachelor’s degree and/or a teaching certificate, you can do the ITBS through BJUP:

http://www.bjupress.com/services/testing/

The best way to do it is with a standarzied test, but 2nd grade might be too young. You may have to wait for 4th grade.

You’ll have to pay for such a test. It has to be adminsitered by someone approved with a BA degree (if you have a BA you can become APPROVED and then you can charges other to do it for them!)

You can check your states dept of education website. They should have grade level expectations. You can also find the book series What Every —th Grader Should Know.

Good luck

We do not do any testing for our own children until well into their high school years, but I list Christian Liberty Press as a test source for those in our home school group who would like to test their children.

They will send you a grade level CAT test for around $22.00, you administer the test, send it back to them for evaluation, and if you’d like they will make recommendations based on the scores.

All tests, and scores will be send back to you for your records.

The web site is: http://ebiz.netopia.com/clpress/copyof/

Your state education website. They will have the public school standards on it.

Your local school board has the standards that your child needs to meet to pass to the next grade. Check with them and I’m sure they will be happy to help!!

ask your local elementary school for an outline, or call your state’s board of education. i’m sure they’d know.

hope this helps =]