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In answering my question, please consider these circumstances. My dd was born with hemiplegic CP. She was also born with eye problems, which result in tracking problems. There are also some sensory processing problems and she has previously had OT to help in her writing skills and coordination.

My dd has read through Buffalo Bill in the ER books. She really struggled with quite a few words in that book. So, I have taken a break from the ERs and have her picking up again in a Grade 1 Pathway reader. She is reading that really well. I can tell it makes her feel good about how she is reading. Very little frustration and can stand longer passages. I have the grade 2 Pathway readers and will begin the first one soon, as she is almost finished with the grade 1 book. I would like to pick up with the ER's next year as we do Bigger. In looking ahead to when dd completes the ER"s, which I listen to her read, does she need to be reading independently to start DITHOR? I'm assuming that means she should be able to read without me sitting there listening. If so, and if she is not doing that, do we continue in ER type books, or what? I know things can change by the time we get there, but I feel like I need a plan, in case. I know dd is not anywhere near reading by herself, so I am not anticipating that she will ready for that even during her work in Bigger. I was thinking that I could add The Beginners Bible next year, since she only read the other one. Should I stretch ER books and Pathway through 3rd grade before starting DITHOR? I probably will start Bigger at half speed, at least for a while, depending how she does with the extra writing. That is an area of weakness as well. Her reading comprehension is very good. Any suggestions?

I'm sure someone way more experienced could answer this than me, but I do have a son that also has hemi. CP, although it sounds much more mild. But YES! I think it would do your daughter well to put off DITHOR for an additional year, giving her another year to really cement her reading skills before you start DITHOR. She should definitely be reading fluidly before you start this program in my opinion. Give her time to really learn to read well, gain confidence and a love for reading. I'm afraid it would only frustrate her otherwise.

For DITHOR level 2/3, the student reads aloud to you for practice with fluency. When she is finished working through the ER's, she should be ready for DITHOR.

We made the transition easier on my dd by splitting up the reading... so she would read a book for 30 days instead of 15, but just do the workbook/textbook stuff every other day. This made less reading, therefore less frustration. We did this for I think 3 genres, then I picked short easier books for the next 2 genres, now she is reading the level two books with no trouble at all. We also take time in between genres to let her rest... anywhere from two weeks to 6 weeks depending on how it falls with our breaks. Of course my dd doesn't have any disabilities wrt reading, she just doesn't like it so that might not help you at all. But I thought I'd tell you how we did it. Basically, it works out that she is doing level two through Bigger and most of Preparing... she'll finish up DITHOR in maybe September or early October, and is on track to finish Preparing in Dec/Jan.

I do not see her having any trouble moving on to level 3 books as scheduled.

I'm agreeing with Lora Beth and Lourdes! Once your DD has finished the ER's, at whatever speed it takes, then she'll be able to start Dithor. I am having my DD read alound everything to me in Dithor. I like the plan of taking it slower too! Of course, you may modify the writing but I think that's okay, she will still get the discussion. If you do the ERs with Bigger, then starting Dithor with Preparing sounds like a plan!!
HTH,

Thanks for the help. I am comfortable going to DITHOR when she is finished with the ERs, but I guess my concern at the present is, should I have her just read Pathways for a while. Julie said they should not have help with too many words on a page in the ERs, and the Buffalo Bill book had a fair amount of words she needed help with. Looking ahead to the last half of the ERs, I'm just not sure she is reading well enough to keep going. She did pretty well in Amelia Bedelia, I think because she knew what the story was about and the pictures helped. I'm inclined to just keep her reading in Pathway through the Grade 2 books, then come back to the ERs. Probably another year before starting DITHOR would be best.

Hmmm, I have no experience with the Pathways books, sorry. If she did Amelia Bedelia maybe do a few more of those (from the library) plus the any extra suggestions for the previous weeks you can get your hands on?? I really like the comprehension questions with the ER books but if she's hit a "wall" maybe it would be best to step back for awhile! Sorry I'm not of more help!