ER or DITHR

[moe]

Hi to all,

My dd will be doing Beyond next hr as a 2nd grader. In the last 2 wks she has started reading chapter books (like Magic Tree House ect) and doing well. I was all set to order ER to go with Beyond and the more I look at the books I am wondering if she should do DITHR 2/3. Need help deciding what to do.

Thank you
Moe

[striving2Bprov31]

Well, if she is reading chapter books, then she may be ready for DITHOR, especially by next school year.

What I would do is double check her on comprehension. Maybe read a chapter in one of her books, then have her read it. Then, ask her to tell you what she read about. Maybe you have already done this. I say this because I think some kids can begin reading easy chapter books at a young age, and yet their reading comprehension is not maturing as quickly. Obviously, if that is the case, then maybe put DITHOR off for another 6 months after beginning Beyond. In that meantime, just do lots of good reading with her and let her read to her little heart's content!!

That's just my humble opinion!

[Gwenny]

My daughter is reading really well also and I looked hard at that. I chose the emerging readers, starting with Owl at Home even though it is simple for her. I wanted to work on her reading aloud skills, using "easy" books means she can focus on expression and changing voices for characters, etc. Plus, the questions that Carrie has given us to ask them helps get them ready for really paying attention and analyzing the story. Because they are so easy, I sometimes do 2 days in one, but I'm glad we started this way. They are really cute books and it's a great for them to have some easy success instead of having everything be a challenge. I thought she wouldn't like it that I'm having her read such easy books, but she's having fun with it.

Nancy

[John'smom]

I believe if they're 2nd grade and reading chapter books, then the suggestion is to start DITHOR.

[moe]

Thank you Ladies!!!!

Striving2Bprob31(love your username) We have been doing narration...actually this is my favorite time of our reading. She is a little long winded but how she retells a story just makes me smile every time !!

Gwenny-I never thought of using ER in that way. Thank you for the idea. She could certainly benefit from doing this.

John'smom-I did see this on the website. Because reading chapter books was such a new thing I was ? my final decision.

Thank you again
Moe

[my3sons]

A happy medium may be to begin further into the Emerging Reader's Set. The Magic Treehouse books generally fall within the 3.0 to 3.3 accelerated reader levels, which is equivalent to beginning 3rd. grade level reading. The Emerging Reader's Set gradually moves dc up through reading levels of difficulty. "Amelia Bedelia" is a 2.5 reading level, "Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express" is around a 3.0 reading level, and "Prairie School' is a 4.0 accelerated reader level. So, by starting around "Amelia Bedelia" or so, you'll be starting your dd at a good place to match her oral reading skills, while still helping her benefit from the comprehension questions which are written according to Bloom's taxonomy and are very beneficial for teaching good reading comprehension. This would also give your dd time to increase her writing skills prior to beginning the DITHOR 2/3 Student Book. Just an idea - HTH!

In Christ,
Julie