Open to: Grades 2 and 3
Format: Web-based
Challenge Level: Grade 5+
Prerequisites: Qualifying verbal score and reading at 5th grade level (View About readability and appropriateness)
Materials Purchase Required:  Visit our textbook web page to view the titles of books that need to be purchased for this course
Session Based: Session Dates and Application Deadlines
Length: 10 weeks (fall & spring), 12 weeks (early summer), or 5 weeks (midsummer)

About the Young Readers' Series for Grades 2 & 3

Here's the perfect critical reading series for students who enjoy getting lost in a good book. Designed for children reading at Grade 5 or above, students

• read four thematically connected, age-appropriate books of increasing difficulty
• participate in online discussions with gifted classmates from Boston to Beijing
• post writing assignments such as newspaper articles, diary entries and letters written from a character’s point of view, and alternative book chapters
• learn sophisticated vocabulary words and literary devices

Instructors encourage students to read carefully and cite the text to support their points. Students become conscious of the importance of interpreting an author's inferences in understanding plot and character. 

Students typically read and share written responses every other day (fall, spring, and early summer sessions) or daily (midsummer intensive session). Work is posted in the virtual classrooms at the student’s convenience as long as deadlines are met.

It does not matter whether a student has already read one or all of the books before the course begins. The emphasis on citing the text and making accurate inferences requires careful re-reading.

Parents are encouraged to consider the information contained in About readability and appropriateness, Look inside the books, and read the reviews for the books in each series before deciding on the theme that would be most interesting and appropriate for their child.

Theme: Horse Stories

Students are immersed in the lore of horses and horse racing while examining the lives of horses and horse lovers. The four books include humor, heartbreak, mystery, realism, suspense, and adventure. Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry, Barbaro: America's Horse (non-fiction) by Shelley Mickle, The Black Stallion by Walter Farley, and The Wild One (Phantom Stallion) by Terri Farley.

About readability and appropriateness

Readability

The easiest method to check readability for your child is the “Five Finger Rule.” Have the child begin reading aloud any page of a book at random and raise your finger each time he or she struggles with a word. If your child reaches the end of the page before you have raised five fingers, your child should be able to read the book independently.

CTYOnline simplifies this informal assessment by linking to pages of almost every book in the Look inside the books section. Please perform this “Five Finger Rule” assessment on the last or next to last book of any course you are considering.

Appropriateness

Parents should be aware that each theme contains books with humor, suspense, mystery, sadness, adventure, and heroism. Overall, while our courses contain advanced grade-level material, we strive to select materials appropriate to the ages of the students. Please look inside the books and read reviews to decide whether these books are appropriate for your child. If you are still uncertain whether your child is ready for a course, please contact the program office or call 410-735-6140.

 Look inside the books. To assess readability level, click on  the bottom two book titles and perform the Five Finger Rule.

Look inside Misty of Chincoteague 
Look inside Barbaro America's Horse
Look inside The Black Stallion
Look inside The Wild One (Phantom Stallion)

Read reviews. Parents are urged to review for appropriate content.

Reviews of Misty of Chincoteague
Reviews of Barbaro America's Horse
Reviews of The Black Stallion
Reviews of The Wild One (Phantom Stallion)

Detailed Course Information

Read Comments and Feedback from Students, Parents, and Teachers

Time Required:

• about 3 hours weekly, 10 weeks (fall and spring) or 12 weeks (early summer)
• about 6 hours weekly during 5 weeks intensive mid summer session

Learn more about the summer sessions.

Get more information from Frequently Asked Questions.

System Requirements

Course Code: YYHS