A Look Inside “Emerging Reader’s Set 2”

A Look Inside “Emerging Reader’s Set 2”

Are picture books too easy and thick chapter books too hard for your budding reader? Well, Emerging Reader’s Set 2 bridges that gap beautifully! This set of beginning chapter books happily transitions children from reading picture books to reading steadily lengthening chapter books.

Finding books at this in-between reading level can be a challenge! Chapter books with too many pages, too mature content, too difficult vocabulary, and too long of chapters can frustrate new readers. Likewise, picture books with too few pages, too immature content, too easy vocabulary, and too many pictures can seem babyish and disappoint readers who are ready for more.

What is a homeschool parent to do? Well, use Heart of Dakota’s Emerging Reader’s Set 2! Calling all book lovers – parents and young children alike – say hello to our amazing Emerging Reader’s Set 2!

What makes this Emerging Reader’s Set 2 special?

Our Emerging Reader’s Set 2 provides a carefully chosen collection of well-loved, beginning chapter books that gradually increase in difficulty throughout the year. Topics vary, yet all are relevant and interesting to children approximately ages 6 to 10.

In addition to these books, this set includes a Daily Reading Schedule with engaging oral questions and narration prompts. Each day’s questions are different and specific to the book’s daily reading. Furthermore, the questions include all levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy, which encourage higher level thinking. Additionally, Charlotte Mason-style narration prompts encourage children to hone their oral narration skills.

Finally, a helpful “Progress Chart” with stickers provides incentive for students to chart their progress and keep track of their journey. They feel such a sense of accomplishment as they Trek the Castle Trail and triumphantly reach the end!

Why did Carrie create the Emerging Reader’s Set 2?

First, Heart of Dakota author, Carrie Austin, M.Ed., created this set of books to transition children from the Emerging Reader’s Set 1 to Drawn into the Heart of Reading. Designed to follow our much-loved original Emerging Reader’s Set 1, Set 2’s collection of 20 engaging books builds reading skills, picking up where the first set leaves off. With books that gradually increase in difficulty, Emerging Reader’s Set 2 transitions beautifully into Drawn into the Heart of Reading.

Second, Carrie carefully chose each of these books so young children would learn to love reading as much as she always has! Her many years spent volunteering at our church library in middle school and high school, her 12 years of public school teaching and being on the reading selection committee, and her 25 years homeschooling her own four children helped her choose books wisely! Meet Buddy the first seeing eye dog, race against time to rescue a baby dolphin, solve the mystery of a runaway racehorse, fight a prairie fire with Cora Frear, deliver a secret message to Paul Revere, and pull together to save the family farm – all just a sampling of what reading awaits your child!

Finally, Carrie carefully wrote oral comprehension questions and narration starters to help children develop strong reading comprehension skills. Just as the books gradually increase in difficulty, so do the questions and narration prompts. By the time the last book is read and the last Daily Reading Schedule’s question is answered, children will be ready to move up to Drawn into the Heart of Reading!

How does this set of books work in Heart of Dakota?

Children enjoy a host of engaging stories with our Emerging Reader’s Set 2 books! Using the full-color Daily Reading Schedule, read the short directions at the top. Then, simply follow each day’s plan. Cuddle up on the couch as you listen to your child read aloud the assigned pages. Then, ask the provided questions to build important comprehension and narration skills. As students discuss and engage with each reading, they will build retelling skills and make meaningful connections with the text.

Encourage children to track their progress with our vibrantly-colored progress charts! After finishing each book, children get to place a provided sticker on the matching pathway space. Book by book, children will fill out the trail on their chart, adding stickers one by one until they triumphantly reach the end!

Finally, Emerging Reader’s Set 2 can be started anytime! It is not matched to certain days, months, holidays, or guides. If your child finishes Emerging Reader’s set 1 in the middle of the homeschool year, no worries! Simply move on to Day 1 of the Emerging Reader’s Set 2’s Daily Reading Schedule! Proceed one day at a time, and when your child finishes Emerging Reader’s Set 2, move on to Drawn into the Heart of Reading! It is that simple!

Is your child ready to start Emerging Reader’s Set 2?

Are you wondering if your child is ready to start Set 2? Well, here are pictures of the first day’s reading assignment:

Let your child study the above illustrations a bit. These pictures are on the pages of Chapters 1-2 from the incredible story of Buddy, the First Seeing Eye Dog! This is the first day’s reading assignment of the first book your child will read. After you’ve let your child see the pictures, click the link below to print the first two chapters and three comprehension questions. Let your child study this a bit, and then when ready, have your child read it aloud to you:

Emerging Reader’s Set 2 Excerpt for Placement

If the child reads the above excerpt quite easily, moves along at a fairly good pace, and pauses just to sound out longer words now and then, Emerging Reader’s Set 2 fits well!

On the other hand, if your child struggles to read, moves along very slowly, and sounds out many words, Emerging Reader’s Set 1 fits well!

Finally, if your child reads extremely quickly, needs practically no help, and almost never pauses to sound out a word, try asking the oral comprehension questions. If they can answer them accurately, Drawn into the Heart of Reading fits well!

So, why delay? If your kiddo fits well in Emerging Reader’s Set 2, click here to order it today!