5 Placement Questions to Consider
Your kids don’t fit a mold—and we love that about them! Every child learns and grows at their own pace, so most students won’t match a curriculum level perfectly. (That’s precisely why Timberdoodle Kits stay so customizable!)
Sometimes, you’ll know right away you need to tweak a kit. Other times, you’ll spot more subtle differences.
How Do You Choose Whether to Go Up or Down a Level?
Here are 5 thoughtful questions you can ask yourself to find the right fit:
- Do I know where my child’s skills stand right now? (Placement tests help!)
- Does my child love a challenge—or feel overwhelmed easily?
- Does this subject gap look small—or huge?
- Does this subject (like math) build step-by-step—or stay flexible (like history)?
- Will my child set their own pace—or tag along with a sibling’s schedule?
When to Start with the Easier Level
If a subject builds skill-by-skill (like math or reading), start with a level that offers some review.
Let your child quickly breeze through the parts they already know. This builds confidence and lays a strong foundation before tackling harder concepts.
If your child gets discouraged easily, choose the level that covers material they mostly know.
Instead of starting the year frustrated and overwhelmed, they’ll zip through familiar lessons at first—and build the momentum and confidence they need to succeed.
When to Dive Into the Challenge
If your child needs excitement (or gets bored fast), move up a level! Let them tackle new material without slogging through endless review.
For subjects like history and science, you can jump around. If your younger child joins a sibling in Story of the World 2, that’s great! They’ll catch up with Story of the World 1 later on.
More Creative Solutions
If you spot a small gap, patch it! You can also slow down when needed. Pause when tricky topics pop up, dive deep, then roll forward again.
We’re Here to Help!
If you’re still stuck between two levels, message or call us—we’ll help you find the best fit for your awesome kid.
