Thank you, [customer name], for contacting us about the dictation passages in your Language Arts programs. Our dictation passages are drawn from literature that the student will read throughout the year. The purpose of dictation is to both expose students to, and allow students to mimic, good writing. The fact that a dictation passage is drawn from literature your student may be reading at the time is a helpful correlation, but is not necessary to accomplish the purposes for using dictation. We do try to ensure your child has already read the passage, but the dictation passage will not always be from the book currently being read.
If you prefer to select your own dictation passage you can check Appendix [#] for additional dictation selections. I have attached a copy of this appendix to this email, just in case you are unable to locate the appendix.