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Science | Handwriting | Spelling | Guided Reading

1.    How do the “Levels” of ARF Science match Grade Levels?
In general, Level A is used in grade 1. Level B, grade 2; Level C, grade 3; Level D, grade 4; Level E, grade 5; Level F, grade 6; Level G, grade 7; Level H, grade 8. However, Levels A & B are designed to be interchanged. Levels C-H can also be moved up or down one level to accommodate student need.

2.    Is a Science “Scope & Sequence” available?
Yes! The “Scope and Sequence” correlates to the National Science Education Content Standards. See the “Downloads” link above to click on and review or download the “Scope and Sequence” for any or all grade levels.

3.    Is ARF Science a complete curriculum?
Yes! A Reason For Science® is a complete science curriculum written to the National Science Content Standards. It focuses on learning Key Concepts each week rather than the more traditional curriculum goal of memorizing formulas and facts.

4.    Is the Science Teacher Guidebook really necessary?
It’s Essential! The Teacher Guidebook contains details and resources necessary to the curriculum, plus detailed lesson plans, answer keys, extension activities, and much more. It is impossible to conduct the activities or use the Student Worktexts without the Guidebook.

5.    Can I buy extra Student Worktexts?
Yes. Once you have purchased the Pack or Set (with a Teacher Guidebook), extra Student Worktexts are then available for using the curriculum with additional students. The materials kit will actually serve up to five students.

6.    Why do I need a Materials Kit?
The “hands-on” nature of this curriculum requires the use of numerous and specific manipulatives. Without correct materials, concepts taught in each lesson are difficult to grasp. With the Materials Kit, however, concepts become clear and are easy to teach, even for those with little or no Science background.

7.    What is in the Materials Kit?
The Materials Kit contains most all essential materials for an entire year’s worth of lessons. Many of these materials are specialized and not readily available to the general public. Necessary items not included in the kit, such as water, scissors, scotch tape, a hammer, ect. are items most easily located “around the house.”

1.    How do the “Levels” of ARF Handwriting match Grade Levels?
In general, the Level A is used in grade 1. Level B, grade 2; Transition, grades 2 or 3 (See question #4); Level C, grade 3; Level D, grade 4; Level E, grade 5; Level F, grade 6. However, Student Worktext Levels C–F all teach Cursive and can easily move up or down a level to accommodate individual student needs.

2.    Why do both Levels A & B feature Manuscript Handwriting?
Most students need two full years to master Manuscript before transitioning into Cursive. From computer screens to street signs to school textbooks, we all live in a “Manuscript World!” Mastering manuscript is essential for life.

3.    What “style” of penmanship is taught?
The traditional “Palmer” method is reflected throughout A Reason For Handwriting®. We do not teach styles that “shortcut” to cursive, because mastering Manuscript is so important to learning, and “shortcuts” to Cursive handwriting bring significant learning disadvantages. Research shows that teaching one style of text for “Reading” and a completely different style for “Handwriting” can lead to significant learning problems. See the “Downloads” link to view/download the “E.R.I.C. Study” research reference.

4.    When should we use the Transition Worktext?
Use the Transition Worktext, ideally, for grade 3. The Transition Worktext contains 27 weeks of “Manuscript review” lessons. Most students need only a few before moving into the 9 weeks of “Transition” lessons. Then, you have 27 weekly “Cursive” lessons. The Transition Worktext allows for a full year of maximum individualized student instruction.

5.    How valuable is the Teacher Guidebook?
The Comprehensive Teacher Guidebook contains specific instructions for using the full, K-6th curriculum, detailed lesson plans and helps with “problem letters,” and various “letter combinations.” Plus, page by page teaching tips are included from Kindergarten through all 8 Student Worktexts. Especially valuable is the section on fun ways to share the Scripture Border Sheets each week!

6.    What Bible version is used in this curriculum?
Since A Reason For Handwriting® was created to teach penmanship skills based on Scripture verses instead of secular content, a simple, easy-to-understand vocabulary was essential. Only The Living Bible’s “paraphrase” (Tyndale House) met this readability criteria. We strongly suggest that you encourage students to compare these “practice verses” from the “paraphrase” with the “translation” you use for in-depth Bible study. This process can generate valuable family dialog and additional Scripture insights!

7.    Does A Reason For Handwriting® correlate with A Reason For Spelling®?
With the exception of the Transition Worktext, the practice verses used in the weekly Handwriting lesson are the same verses on which the Monday morning Spelling “Values Theme Story” is based. In Handwriting, your student practices, memorizes, decorates, and then shares their Verse of the Week. Then, in Spelling, they discover how the “Value” inherent in that verse is applicable in their personal life!

1.    How do the “Levels” of ARF Spelling match Grade Levels?
In general, the Level A is used in grade 1. Level B, grade 2;   Level C, grade 3; Level D, grade 4; Level E, grade 5; Level F, grade 6. However, Student Worktext use can easily move up or down to accommodate individual student needs.

2.    Is the ARF Spelling Teacher Guidebook really necessary?
Absolutely! The Teacher Guidebook contains the weekly “Values Theme Story” on which the pretest and all following weekly activity pages and answers are based. Plus, it includes detailed lesson plans, extension activities, and numerous helps for student spelling “challenges” and much more. It is impossible to use this curriculum without a matching Teacher Guidebook.

3.    Does your ARF Spelling program follow “spelling rules”?
American English is a complex language containing numerous irregularities, and there are exceptions to almost every spelling “rule.” Research, however, indicates there are some “generalizations” that are of value in teaching children to spell. Rather than “rules,” we emphasize these “generalizations” throughout the curriculum. (For more information, see any ARF Teacher Guidebook, page XI.)

4.    Is this a phonics-based spelling program?
In both lower grade Worktexts (Levels A and B), A Reason For Spelling® offers an optional phonics section where it is most appropriate. Phonics can be helpful when learning basic words that follow simple rules. But, since American English is not phonetic, it can also be confusing when decoding more difficult words. Other learning strategies are outlined in the Teacher Guidebooks for Levels C and above.

5.    Do the ARF Spelling Worktexts have a glossary?
Teacher Guidebooks show how to help students create their “own glossary” in a spiral notebook as questions arise about specific words. This not only encourages developing dictionary skills, but is a more effective way to focus on learning the meanings of words.

6.    How does ARF Spelling correlate with ARF Handwriting?
In A Reason For Spelling®, each week’s lesson begins with a 6-7 minute Values Theme Story. This continuing story, about a classroom of kids growing up together, features a Weekly Scripture “Value” inherent in the same Scripture verse practiced that week in ARF Handwriting at each grade level – except for the ARF Transition Worktext.

1.   How many Guided Reading Storybooks are there?
Currently, there are nearly 100 Little Leveled Readers – with more on the way! And, they are all based on Scripture stories and/or Scripture values!

2.   How do I know which Reading Level my child needs to be using?
In general, Levels A, B, C, are designed for emergent readers (usually Kindergarten or beginning 1st grade). Levels D, E, F,G, H are designed for transitional readers (roughly 1st grade). Levels I, J, K, L, M are designed for early fluent readers (roughly 2nd grade). Keep in mind, however, that every child is different! And that’s why Guided Reading is so ideal! It’s not uncommon to find fluent readers in first grade or emergent readers in second grade.
If your child has not completed a full year of formal reading instruction, start with Advantage Guided Reading – Grade 1. These 64 beginning books and lessons may be easy for your child, but that will only build confidence and at the same time double check for the understanding of the lesson concepts. The pacing of the lessons are suggestions and can be compressed or extended to meet the needs of your child. If your child has completed a year of reading instruction, you may wish to order the Fluent Package. However there are always significant benefits to continually reading books that may be below your child’s highest reading level.

3.   What is the difference in the Scripture series and the Values series?
Books in the Scripture series (purple cover edges) are based on Bible characters like Esther, Joseph, or Peter. The series also includes parables like the Ten Lepers. The back cover contains specific Scripture references relating to the story. The Values series (blue cover edges) is based on general Scripture themes like angels, prayer, and guidance. It also includes Christian Values themes like sharing, and stories about children with behavior and physical disabilities. The back cover references related Scripture verses.

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Scripture-Based Curricula