DITHOR Placement?

[LovingJesus]

We are new to HOD, and I have been so enjoying researching the curriculum on their web-site. I Love what I am seeing. I am planning on using Beyond with my ds8/2nd grade. His writing, language arts, and spelling skills are far far behind his reading abilities & silent reading comprehension.

I am thinking of using DITHOR Level 2/3 with Beyond for him. I am wondering if this is the right level for him to use. The following is a book list of books he has read in the past two months. At the bottom of the list I have included reader programs that he has completed in the last 1 - 1 1/2 years.

The past 2 months Books completed:
Encyclopedia Brown
McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm
B is for Betsy
Besty and the Boys
Back to School Betsy
Besty and Billy
C.S. Lewis: Prince Caspian, Silver Chair, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Boy and His Horse
Box Car Children Books #5 thru #19
God Speaks Numanggang
Most of Window on the World
NIrV Bible
Children's Bible
The Children of Noisy Village
Along Came a Dog
Marco Polo
Frindle
A Llama in the Family
Lumber Camp Library

Completed reader programs:
SL 2 Readers, which includes 8 of the books on the emerging reader list
SL Readers 3
SL Readers 4/5
Pathway Readers Grades 1 thru Grade 7

What reading program level should I put him into?

Thank you ladies. This board has been absolutely wonderful as I work through placing my children into the right levels!

In Christ,

[my3sons]

I agree with your placement of using DITHOR 2/3 with him! I think that will be a great fit. Using the DITHOR Student Book 2/3 and the DITHOR plans 2/3 will be enough of a challenge for him as it will introduce him to the 9 different genres, the story elements, and the Godly character traits. Many fourth graders beginning DITHOR start in DITHOR 2/3 for this very reason, to lay an excellent foundation in formal literature study.

As far as books for him to read, I'd say he could use either Level 2 books (which range in reading levels from third grade to fourth grade first month), Level 3 books (which range in reading level from third grade fifth month to fifth grade first month), or a mixture of both of those levels. Here is a link to those titles...
http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into-optional.php

I'd lean toward choosing books he can read without a lot of challenge, as it will be a challenge to learn the story elements, the Godly character traits, and do the Student Book. The reading is purposefully kept to small increments each day, which will seem easy for your avid reader, but which will also allow for character and plot development to take place. CM advocated "sitting with a book for awhile" to really understand it fully, and we have found this to be an excellent way to foster good reading comprehension skills. DITHOR books are also some of our dc's most favorite books - because they are so good - but also because they actually remember them (as opposed to the books they speed read for free time in their rooms, which are often quickly forgotten). On the link I gave you above, it lists the number of suggested days of reading for each of the titles, which we use and have found very helpful in planning. HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[LovingJesus]

Thank you Julie! This is so helpful. I am really looking forward to starting to lay a foundation in formal literature study with Godly character traits tied in. It sounds wonderful. Thank you also for pointing out the very worth while pursuit of slowing down my speedy reader to the number of pages assigned each day and studying them. It is nice to know the fruit of doing so for extra motivation, since I will have to cut him off.

Thank you... oh I am looking forward to starting.

[Carrie]

Great advice! I agree!

Blessings,
Carrie