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Language Arts: Level 3

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Level 3 FAQs

How is the new edition different from the previous one?

The Level 3 Course Set comes with three items: The Level 3 Course Book, the Level 3 Spelling Practice Book, and the Level 3 Phonics Read-Together Books Set. A Level 3 Answer Key is available as a free download above or as a physical item on the product page. This answer key includes answers only to select pages (not every page).

Lessons have been streamlined to take less time but to be packed with even more learning presented in a way that is not overwhelming. Level 3 focuses heavily on phonics and reading and requires one-on-one time with a parent or teacher each day.

This course includes a total of four units and four unit reviews. The assessment includes extra practice for any principle the child does not pass so you can check the child’s progress and assign extra practice as needed.

You are welcome to download the entire course (for free) on our website to see if it is a good fit for your family. There is also a flip-through video of our amazing new Language Arts Level 3 above.

Are the spelling and grammar rules reviewed in the next levels, or does my child need to master them now?

Spelling and grammar rules are reviewed in our upper-level lessons as well. The Levels 5-7 grammar and geography cards also cover grammar rules.

I am teaching more than one child. What do I need to purchase?

Each child will need their own Course Book and Spelling Practice Book. The Phonics Read-Together Books are non-consumable and can be shared.

How long will it take to complete the Level 3 Course Book?

The course consists of 120 lessons divided into four units and four unit reviews. To complete the course in one average school year, the child should complete one lesson daily, four days a week. This allows for five weeks of vacation days and/or sick days in addition to normal school breaks for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break.

Are PDFs free to download?

The new edition of Level 3 is available as a free PDF download. This PDF includes all course set items so you can view the full course, including the Table of Contents.

The PDFs are free for all items that are part of the course set.

What is dictation? How is it done?

To dictate a sentence or a word means you say the sentence or word out loud and the child writes it down. After each word or sentence, give any correction needed. Have the child write the sentence or word correctly if it was incorrect the first time.

Why aren’t there spelling lists in the new course?

This course does not focus on spelling lists or memorization of spelling words. Rather, the course teaches how to segment and decode words in order to spell them based on known phonics principles. In addition, children practice spelling a small number of high-frequency and irregular words right in the lessons and in the Spelling Practice Book. Children will naturally know how to spell many words after learning the phonics principles behind the words. Teaching children to memorize a lot of decodable spelling words is time-consuming, frustrating, and ineffective. 

Does my child need to master the subject before moving on to the next level?

All of our levels contain a lot of review. We do not expect children to retain everything learned the first time concepts are introduced. Therefore, we build review into our courses in a spiral method. All concepts taught will be covered again, usually multiple times.

Language Arts FAQs

How do I get started and what do I need to order?

We are so happy that you chose The Good and the Beautiful to be part of your homeschooling journey!

This is one of the most common questions parents have when they first visit our website. Our Getting Started Guide will help you navigate what products are needed and what is typically used for each age group. We also have recommendations for each grade level at the link below. 

Choose Your Grade

Once you’ve received your order, this same guide will walk you through your new courses.

How do your Language Arts levels compare to public school grade levels?

As we create new editions of language arts, we are aligning the instruction methods and layouts more toward grade level. We are focusing the lower levels more on reading, writing, and spelling.

Many concepts are still considered advanced but they are introduced in lessons that are easier to follow for both the child (in the self-guided levels) and the parent (in levels 3 and under). We now save some of the more complex grammar concepts for higher levels, but grammar is still covered thoroughly. Our courses have increased, rather than decreased, in how thorough and rigorous they are for children as there is more learning woven into each and every lesson. If your child is advanced, he or she may be able to move through the lessons more quickly. 

You can download our Language Arts Levels K-8 for free. By downloading the free courses, you will be able to see exactly how concepts are introduced and taught. 

I am partway through a language arts course released before 2022 and want to know if I should stop where I am at and start the new edition of the course.

If you are PARTWAY through a language arts course released before 2022 and you want to switch to the new edition of the course released in or after 2022 rather than finishing the original edition, we suggest starting at the beginning of the new edition of the course and skipping sections already mastered. The scope and sequence of the new editions are completely changed.

If my child hasn’t finished an entire course, is it OK for my child to move to the next course level?

It is typically not recommended to start a new course before completing the previous course, especially when the child is learning foundational phonics and reading principles. However, if you would like to assess if your child is ready for the next level prior to finishing the level you are on, administer the reading level assessment included in our Course Placement Test. If your child passes the reading assessment that corresponds to the child’s age/grade level, it can work to move to the next course level without finishing the current course level the child is on.

Which level should I choose for my child?

Most children can start on the corresponding grade level for their age if they do not need extra reading help. We suggest taking the Placement Test if you are unsure whether the child needs extra reading help. Extensive placement FAQs can be found on the Placement Test document.

My child finished early. Do I wait until next year to start the next level?

No, you can continue straight into the next level when your child finishes.

Do I have to use the apps to complete the courses?

We have introduced a free Letter Tiles app that can be used in correlation with the lessons and which has been a favorite with pilot families.

We have also released a Homeschool app, which will be a tremendous resource and make it easy and quick for you to access resources.

The app resources are highly recommended to enhance learning, and pilot families, even those who do not use screens in their homes, were raving about the videos, video books, and spelling resources. Most parts of the courses can be completed without the use of our apps, but some parts, especially geography, and some highly effective spelling rule videos require the use of the app, but those parts can be skipped if desired. The apps can be accessed and used on the computer if desired.

Are there answer keys for all levels? Are the answer keys for the old levels still available?

Yes, there are answer keys for Levels K-8. There is not an Answer Key for Kindergarten Prep since the answers are very basic. Answer keys are available as a free download and include answers only to select pages (not every page).

To access the free download of the Answer Keys for Language Arts Levels K-5 and Level 8 Book Studies go to goodandbeautiful.com, navigate to the Level Language Arts product page, and click on the “FAQs, Helps, and Extras” button below the product image.

The Language Arts  Level 6 Answer Key is included in the free PDF download of Language Arts Level 6. You can download the full course including the Answer Key here: Free PDF

The Language Arts Level 7 Answer Key is included in the Level 7 Course Companion beginning on page 119. You can download Language Arts Level 7 including the Level 7 Course Companion here: Free PDF

The previous edition Answer Keys for Language Arts are no longer available.

How do I transition from the old edition to the new edition?

You can move straight into the new edition. The new edition courses are adjusted to be more on grade level, but we still teach almost all the same concepts and topics just as thoroughly, and in many cases more thoroughly. The difference is that we teach the concepts in a more gentle way that is age appropriate for the child, so that the child does not get overwhelmed.

When will the Nature Readers (for Levels K-2) be released?

My First, Second, and Third Nature Readers and My First Africa Reader are available now. My Second and Third Africa Readers will be released in the future. At this point, we have not decided if we will have other My First, Second, and Third Readers series after that.

How do I report a typo/error?

Please email our customer support team ([email protected]) if you find a typo in the curriculum. If you are using an edition that is older than two years, the typo has most likely been fixed and will not need to be reported.

Do The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts courses follow Common Core standards? How does it compare to public school?

Our curriculum does not follow Common Core standards, but it does match or exceed most national public school standards. The academic spine of our curriculum was developed by compiling national state standards and then determining which ones match Good and Beautiful moral standards and the abilities of our pilot families. We believe that children who work on The Good and the Beautiful curriculum consistently each day will find that they are far above public school standards.

What educational philosophies does the Language Arts curriculum follow?

The Language Arts courses are not based on one specific educational philosophy or method. Rather, the creators of the curriculum intensely studied many different philosophies over a period of years and compiled what they felt were the best elements from several different philosophies, pulling mainly from Charlotte Mason. Find more about our philosophy in the video below

Does the curriculum include doctrines specific to any certain Christian denomination?

No. The goal of The Good and the Beautiful curriculum is not to teach doctrines specific to a particular Christian sect, but to teach general principles of moral character such as honesty and kindness. The King James Version of the Bible is used when quoting Bible verses.

Which language arts courses have new editions and when did they release?

Language Arts New Edition Schedule (Schedule Last Updated March 2024)

Any courses that do not have a future date do not have new editions in development and are not anticipated to be replaced in the near future.

Preschool: A new edition of our Preschool Course (which replaced our Pre-K Language Arts course) released on August 30, 2021.
Kindergarten Prep: Kindergarten Prep (which replaced our Level K Primer course) was released on April 19, 2022.
Level K: A new edition was released on June 7, 2022.
Level 1: A new edition was released on June 14, 2022.
Level 2: A new edition was released on July 12, 2022.
Level 3: A new edition was released on June 6, 2023.
Level 4: A new edition was released on October 12, 2020.
Level 5: A new edition was released on March 8, 2022.
Levels 6 and 7: We plan to release new editions of these levels in 2025.
Level 8: A new edition of Level 8 will be released in the coming years after the Level 6 and 7 courses are released. It will be a full-length course that will replace our current Level 8 Book Studies.
High School LA Courses: We do not have immediate plans to revise these courses. We will not be releasing any more high school courses in 2024.

View our New Edition Language Arts FAQs here.