DITHR Experts help me schedule half paced please :)

[water2wine]

Can you give me a half paced DITHR schedule. I am looking for how many days a week and how much time type thing. Would three days 1/2 hour a week be enough or could I get it down to two days a week as far as our one one one meeting time. I am thinking just about the time I need to schedule out for it for me to help them not their actual reading time if that makes sense. I am wanting to cover 4 maybe 5 genres this year. It would be supplemental for us but I really want to incorporate it. Any advice? Thanks!

[Kathleen]

I'd say it depends on what level books/kids you're talking about.

Last year Grant was in level 2/3 student book, and he did the level 2 pack of books. They were pretty easy for him, but a great place to start. We spent 20 min per session on DITHOR. For Level 2/3, you spend the whole time with the student because they're supposed to read out loud to you, and it's reccommended to talk through the workbook page when those come up, too.

This year, I'm planning on Grant needing 30 min for DITHOR. But, I'm thinking I'll only need to be in on 20 min of that? He's going to do student book 2/3 again (less writing) with the 4/5 boy book pack.

I would think if you put aside 30 min of your time 3 times a week, that would be a good guess to start with. Some days you get to do everyone together. On the days you're not all together, you could send the older ones off on their own, and devote the time to younger ones. (I think. Would you believe that I only read the parts of the plans that I needed last year? I can totally ignore anything that doesn't pertain to me. So, hopefully someone who's using it with several levels can really help you. )

Kathleen

[water2wine]

Thank you Kathleen. I would be doing all three levels actually is the thing. I'm sorry I should have said that. I am trying to do three levels at half pace but wanting to be realistic with my time because we need to get Spanish in there too. Maybe I need to just float two different times for each and do the reality check and see if they can alternate and merge in the future. I was hoping maybe someone could give me the magic answer, hahaha! It's maybe complicated enough to try to do all three levels of DITHR I am leaving myself 45 minutes thinking it will shrink perhaps in the future but wanted to alternate that twice a week with Spanish. Sounds like maybe that will work but I guess just need to do a pilot couple of weeks and see.

[Kathleen]

I really think that 45 min 3 times a week sounds like a good guess.

I'm flipping through my manual now...
For Fantasy genre,
You'd do the kick-off all together.
You'd do day 1 together (and you wouldn't be needed for 45 min - maybe only 20) Students read on their own.
It looks like on days 2-5, you will be needed daily by level 2/3 and then also either by 4/5 OR 6/7/8. The upper 2 levels are instructed to read their assigned pages alone (or leaving 3-4 to read aloud for you). So you could start with the 2/3 child and then move to the older ones that need you during your time.

Then you repeat this cycle 3 more times for the genre.

Hopefully someone who's actually alread done this can help you, but I think you're off to a good start on your guess.
Kathleen

[water2wine]

Thanks Kathleen just your vote of approval makes me feel better. I will try your suggestions. It sounds reasonable. We'll see how it goes. I let it slip through the crack last year and took the easy route. Really want to get DITHR done this year. It has in it skills my kids need. Thanks for your kindness and help!

[Carrie]

water2wine,

I agree with Kathleen that 3 times a week at 45 minutes would be a good time allotment to shoot for with several levels of DITHR. DITHR is designed so that you never meet separately with more than 2 levels on any given day. So, one level is always independent to balance out time spent with the other 2 levels.

The 4/5 level requires the most time as you're still helping the student and their assignments are a bit longer, requiring written work for each session. The 2/3 Level is short and sweet and easy to slide in. The 6/7/8 Level is quite independent and is written directly to the student, requiring less of the teacher.

We've found that if you go below 3 days a week the kiddos lose the thread of the story, so it's good to stay at 3 days a week (or more if desired). As our weeks have gotten busier, we've shifted to doing DITHR on a 3 day a week plan and are very pleased with the results.

I do think that DITHR becomes more important the closer kiddos get to high school, as most states require 3 years of formal literature study in high school. DITHR is excellent preparation in vocabulary, comprehension, and deeper analytical thinking. Quite a few sections of the standardized tests are impacted by the skills learned in DITHR.

Blessings,
Carrie

[water2wine]

Thank you Carrie! Really appreciate all that information and having it all broken down. It's great to know that it is written so you can do all three levels. We'll go for the three day 45 minute plan. Thanks for the help!