How to determine what level?

[Bekka]

DS is in 1/2 day KG in the mornings. He is a very advanced reader; reads somewhere around 4th grade or more reading level. Not sure his comprehension, maybe more like 3rd grade.

At our house we have a "quiet time" every afternoon during nap time. He gets bored sometimes, and so I'd like to make 4 or 5 different fun learning activities to challenge him, because I'm convinced he's bored academically and doesn't know where to put his energy.

I'd like the activities to be self-directed, really exciting, etc. I personally NEED to take a nap or at least close the door between me and the kids for an hour every day.

I could pay for a curriculum if that would help, but I don't know where to start. I don't know that I'd call it homeschooling, but maybe I'd call it "afterschooling" for fun. I'd like to show him several things and have HIM pick which things would be fun for his activities.

He likes to draw, cut, etc. as well. His writing seems to be on par with grade (KG/1st). I would appreciate any suggestions about how to determine level, as well as ideas/websites for activities.

[scheelimama]

I would suggest giving him some handwork type things to do...my kids don't really do "bookwork" during quiet time...they still require too much assistance, but with him reading, I don't know, maybe he could do more on his own.

Finger knitting...would he enjoy that? Maybe some handsewing. My older dd loves to handsew during quiet time with embroidery thread and a largish embroidery needle. Right now she's working on embroidering some appliques onto a cloth crown. My girls also like doing handsewing on a hoop with muslin and embroidery thread, you can make some pretty designs and let your creativity run wild. I also allow coloring during quiet time. Any quiet activity basically. Neither is really reading independently yet, though they will look through picture books at night before bed for 15-30 min. But during quiet time, I most often put on audio books and let them choose a quiet activity to do.

Since your ds is reading, what about getting him into some good books, like the Magic Treehouse series?

[heatherdeg]

Why not make up some activity bags? Here's an example of preschool level stuff just to give you an idea of what I'm talking about:

http://www.walkingbytheway.com/blog/?cat=72

Mine decodes at college level with 4th grade comprehension. You should have him tested to make sure that he's actually reading. Early advanced readers CAN make a fun task of decoding pages of text without absorbing it. Not all--just something to watch out for.

So for us, a good activity is: read this book and then tell me the story by drawing me pictures or taking photos (he has a kids digital camera). We have a bunch of those books where there's like 3 writing lines at the bottom of a blank page--and there's maybe 10-20 bound together (see the teacher store). Or somehow have him retell the story to you in his own words. I just bought two books on building comprehension or I'd have more activities like that for you.

Also, soma cubes and automoblox type stuff? Lego sets? (mine is able to do the ones labeled for 7-10 or 7-14yos so maybe yours can, too?)

Oh, and if he's reading, you can get Yoga Pretzels and he can read the cards on how to do the poses (meant for children). Tell him to create a yoga sequence for you to see when quiet time is over.

Have him compose a song...? Or change the words to a song he knows to make it about your home/family?

Or write a story? (he can tell it to the family after dinner or while you prepare dinner?)

Send him on a scavenger hunt...? Or an I-Spy hunt in the house with a camera. We created a blank sheet with the letters A-Z on it each with a line and he had to go photograph something for each letter and write down what he photographed for each (as a means of keeping track more than anything). Of course, mine insisted on doing the letters in order.

[Bekka]

Thanks for some ideas!