"How Should I Give My Elementary Student a Grade?"

At Literary Adventures for Kids, we believe that each parent knows their child best. You see their daily progress, strengths, and challenges, making you the best person to assess their learning. Our goal is to provide a relaxed, engaging learning experience, and we have a few simple ways to help you determine how your child is doing and then assess a grade.

Open-Ended Questions:

One of the easiest ways to assess your child’s understanding is through conversation. Ask open-ended questions, such as:

• Do you like the story so far?
• Who is your favorite character?
• What is your least favorite part of the story or what do you not like?
• Is this a type of book you normally like to read?
• What would you change about the story we read?

By discussing these with your child each week, you can see if they are understanding the concepts, engaging with the lessons, and developing an appreciation for the story. These discussions also help build confidence in sharing ideas and opinions.

This is a form of narration and the Socratic method. These are ways of encouraging critical thinking and active engagement in learning through a series of questions and discussions. Instead of simply providing answers, the teacher guides students in a conversation that helps them discover knowledge on their own. This method encourages students to think independently, analyze information, and express their thoughts clearly.

Copywork and Dictation:

Some parents choose to use copywork and dictation for a grade in spelling. You can choose a short passage or line from the story for your child to copy. This helps develop handwriting, spelling, and attention to detail in a low-pressure way.

Encouraging Engagement:

Since our Online Book Clubs include hands-on activities, rabbit trails, and Magic Dust projects, you can assess your child’s learning by looking for:


✔️ Participation – Are they enjoying the activities and completing them?
✔️ Curiosity – Are they asking questions or wanting to learn more about the topics in the book?
✔️ Connections – Are they making connections between the story and real life?

There’s no need for strict grading at this stage—if they are engaged and excited about the book, they are learning.

Providing Encouraging Feedback:

Instead of focusing on correctness, try celebrating effort and enthusiasm! Some ways to encourage your child include:

💬 “I love how you described the main character!”

💬 “That’s such a great observation—tell me more about what you think!”

💬 “You did an awesome job thinking of a different ending for the story!”

When children feel encouraged, they develop a love for reading and learning.

Celebrating Their Progress:

One of the best ways to track growth is by keeping a Reading Journal. In each book club, your child can draw a picture, write a sentence about their favorite part, or add a fun fact they learned from a rabbit trail. Over time, you’ll see how much their reading comprehension and storytelling skills grow!

Optional Instructor Feedback

If your child would like feedback from one of our instructors, they can share their thoughts, artwork, or activities in the comments section of the lesson. We love celebrating their creativity and enthusiasm.

Grading for elementary students in Online Book Clubs should be relaxed and joyful. The most important thing is that your child enjoys the book and feels encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas. If you have any questions, we’re always here to help!