https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:49:06 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415845 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 15:18:10 +0000 Pumuckl 2415845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Turtle: I like your idea of just going with rainbow riders, green riders etc. :goodluck: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415823 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 14:56:22 +0000 Astro Bee 2415823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Maybe you use different horse breeds, if you like the fish model. Or would they be too difficult for kids to pronounce? I think some of them might be, but could be used as the more advanced levels/stages. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415796 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 14:24:25 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2415796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you all for your responses!! It is so helpful to see what parents think of this idea. My only concern with "stages" is that it implies a more natural progression, instead of goals you work toward. But maybe that's incorrect? </p> <p>I might stay away from levels all together and on the ribbons have it just say "Rainbow Rider" or whatever color they are. </p> <p>We're also thinking we will individualize the goals, so each kid has their own plan for their lessons. We will talk to the parents after their kid has taken a few lessons and come up with a plan together for progression. Our intention is to work with autistic, ADHD, etc kids in the future, and this would help to accommodate them into our program and include them in our activities more equally. We will have to stay on top of it with the kids, making sure no one is comparing how quickly they are moving up the levels or how their goals are harder than someone else's. We will try to keep it really positive and make sure it stays really individualized. We have a big home schooling population up here, and I think they will all appreciate our individualized approach to this system. I hope!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415790 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 14:19:46 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2415790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Astro Bee: @Bubbles: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @MamaCate: @808love: @Mrs Green Grass: The swimming lessons was our original model. I love the guppies, etc idea. However, the roadblock we came upon was that in swimming lessons the comparisons work because the kids are learning to swim like fish. In horses, they aren't learning to be like horses, but are riding the horses. So we couldn't come up with a level system using horse words that wouldn't be confusing. i.e. "why am I a pony rider but I'm riding a horse?" Also, since we have riders that are complete beginners starting at all ages, it seemed like the 15 year old beginners might be a little offended that they are being referred to as "ponies" or "foals" or something that implies small size or young age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415658 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 12:05:28 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 2415658@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's very similar to swim lessons. Once you've mastered certain skills you can move to the next class. And I don't anyone feels like learning to swim at the early stages is competitive. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415656 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 12:00:59 +0000 808love 2415656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I read the post, I was thinking stages too. But I would be fine with levels. In my head, stages imply movement, progress and current broad skill set. Whereas levels imply a set boundary to the ability. Sounds like a great program!! Where do I sign up?! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415489 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 08:11:46 +0000 MamaCate 2415489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like "horsemanship" as a name better than colorful riders because I think it is more descriptive. I also agree that giving names to letters or stages with ribbons would be helpful for kids and families to visualize progress. My LO did swim school the past two summers and they had a similar approach where the groups were named after kinds of fish. They outlined what skills were worked on in the "goldfish" class and then what needed to be mastered before moving to the next group. It was helpful for us to know what to work on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415451 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 05:25:09 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2415451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I took swim lessons as a kid the youngest group/ non- experienced swimmers were all called Guppies. No ribbons, just names for the groups based on ability level and what they would learn. Agree with @ Astro Bee: the level/ stages should be horse related.</p> <p>In general I'm not in the camp that all kids should get an award, but in this case the ribbons don't denote a winner just a stage in development. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415447 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 04:20:32 +0000 Bubbles 2415447@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's fine! My sons swimming classes are split into levels and they use different types of fish! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415436 Sun, 10 Jan 2016 02:00:40 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2415436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: Stages is a good way to refer to it! </p> <p>@Mrs. Turtle: I think the ribbons is a great idea! It comes off as motivating and breaking down a child's progress in that way sounds like it would enhance the learning experience. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415400 Sat, 09 Jan 2016 23:33:41 +0000 Astro Bee 2415400@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't think it's too much pressure. But if you want to go a different route entirely, why not name your levels after something horse-related, eg., rainbow stables, rainbow tack, etc. Or even one of those with certification at the end, so it denotes an accomplishment, but not necessarily a level. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415387 Sat, 09 Jan 2016 23:19:29 +0000 Grace 2415387@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think that's too much pressure at all. Off the top of my head, both swimming lessons and music lessons use levels to show progress. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415244 Sat, 09 Jan 2016 21:09:20 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2415244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Jess1483: Hmm, thanks, I hadn't thought of stages. I'll think about that. It could work really well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415242 Sat, 09 Jan 2016 21:08:25 +0000 Jess1483 2415242@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's totally fine, but the word "stages" might work well and implies a bit more of a gradual process everyone goes through? But really, I think level is fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415188 Sat, 09 Jan 2016 20:28:24 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2415188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.KMM: Okay, great. I originally thought it was a great idea, as we have parents asking us all the time what their child is working on, what they're learning, etc. but then I started worrying that "levels" would rub some parents the wrong way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415150 Sat, 09 Jan 2016 20:01:15 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2415150@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's great! I don't see that putting pressure at all! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/achievement-levels#post-2415144 Sat, 09 Jan 2016 19:55:39 +0000 Mrs. Turtle 2415144@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not sure where to put this, but I hope people will see it here. Say your child was enrolled in a lesson and camp program at a local nonprofit horseback riding center. Not a therapeutic riding center, just a program that uses horses and riding lessons to teach life skills and increase kids' confidence, leadership abilities, communication skills, etc. </p> <p>The program has levels of achievement, similar to what you might find in martial arts. There are specific goals for each level and when the instructors can check all of the boxes in that level, the child moves on to the next level. All of this is very simple, casual, low pressure. No formal testing or anything. It's mainly to be able to explain to parents what we are working on and why, and for kids to be encouraged to work to progress through the levels. </p> <p>Now, if these were called "levels" but were named by colors, i.e. "rainbow level," "green level," etc, would this be TOO much pressure/competition? We want to provide a way to chart learning and progress but want to keep it REALLY positive. I'm adding a poll, but please leave your thoughts as well. I thought maybe we could call it the "Colorful Riders Program" but that seems so vague and doesn't imply progress at all. Now we're thinking of just calling it our "Horsemanship Program" and handing out little colored ribbons that say what level the kids are at. When they move up, they get a new ribbon. This way, every kid gets a ribbon (all kids start at Rainbow Level). Hope this makes sense. I'm really curious to hear input from a bunch of parents! Thanks! </p>