WBLA

Wisdom Booklet Language Arts

Level Placement

How do I know which level is best for my child?

Level placement should be made according to skill level. Your student’s skill level may be dependent on his previous language arts studies (specifically grammar and composition).

When determining your student’s placement in WBLA, focus on his language arts skill level rather than on his grade level. You may use the following test to determine the appropriate WBLA level for your student:

  • Choose the passage from the level in which you think your student should work.
  • Have your student read the passage aloud.
  • Have your student copy the passage.
  • Give your student dictation from the passage.

Give dictation following these steps:

  • Write difficult names and places on the whiteboard for him.
  • Read the entire paragraph aloud to him.
  • Start with the first sentence, and read it to him, a few words at a time.
  • Reread as needed; continue for each sentence of each paragraph.

Sample Passages

Level A:

Jesus told the story of the boastful Pharisee and the lowly publican. He showed one man who was poor in spirit and one man who was proud in spirit.

The Pharisee told himself and others that he was better than everyone else. Because he was humble, the publican would not even look to heaven.

He knew he was not worthy. He wanted God’s mercy.

—Wisdom Booklet 3

Level B:

Analogies between sheep and Christians abound in Scripture. Those who minister are compared to shepherds. Christ is pictured as our Chief Shepherd, and we are the sheep of His pasture.

Each aspect of the Christian life is also illustrated by the ways of sheep. We go astray like sheep. We need Godly leaders to follow, as sheep need a shepherd.

By studying the characteristics and ways of sheep, we are able to discover a wealth of insight for our walks with the Lord, especially as we learn how to meditate effectively on Scripture. God guarantees amazing rewards to every Christian who meditates on His Word day and night.

—Wisdom Booklet 6

Level C:

God is perfectly just and righteous. His justice, rather than man’s fairness, exposes our need for mercy. As we examine ourselves by God’s Word, we must acknowledge that our righteousness is as filthy rags. We see that we are beggars who can do nothing to satisfy God’s perfect standard—we all fall short.

The Biblical concept of fairness means to be impartial and equitable, based on the truth of God’s Word. However, humanism has redefined the meaning of fair.

A false concept of “fairness” demands that all receive the same thing at the same time and is based on personal interests and eroding moral standards. This self-centered view does not recognize our need for God’s mercy and could cause one to become bitter about the difficult things in life that are not “fair.”

—Wisdom Booklet 3

Consider the skills taught in each WBLA level. If the dictation pre-test is simple for your student, he should work in the next level. If he struggles with the spelling, cannot hear the commas, or complains that it is too difficult, you may need to move him down a level. If he gets through it okay (not perfectly), it is probably his correct level.

Beginning With Level A

In order to begin WBLA, young students should have reached what Ruth Beechick calls “reading fluency.” A second-grade student who has not yet mastered phonics is not ready to begin spelling and writing. A student should not be asked to spell a word that he is not able to read. Decoding (sounding out words) and encoding (spelling words) are inverse skills in language arts in the same way that addition and subtraction are inverse skills in mathematics.

Keep in mind that WBLA is formatted into monthly booklets, so you may move up or down a level when you begin the next month’s booklet. If you have questions as to which level your student should be in, do not purchase a whole year’s worth of WBLA. Rather, purchase four month’s worth at a time so you may move your student up mid-year, if desired.