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first I would like to ask how exactly we would define "emerging reader" ?
I am thinking it would mean having been done with phonics and they are reading on their own.
So that brings me to the next question: Is that what the child would be doing , reading aloud to the parent with the selected books designated "emerging reader"
And now one more question I began my child with HOD halfway during the school year (Jan.) and because he is in phonics instruction mode, we were advised not to purchase the "ER" But by fall, he should be done with his phonics instr., so I am thinking I would indeed need to purchase the "ER" (remember we will still have 1/2 of the guide to finish up) and if the answer is yes , he will need the readers, then I should only be purchasing the "ER's for the last half of the guide, right?
thanks for your help
Blessings
KK

I would probably look at the titles of the emerging reader books, and get some similar ones from the library and see how well he does. I would not necessarily say you'd need to start halfway in, and depending on how far you have gone with phonics he might need to just start at the beginning. You don't necessarily have to follow by day with the reading schedule.... just start where he can read comfortably.

My understanding of the progression of reading is dc starts with the phonics instruction, this is followed by ER (emerging readers), and then it is on to DITHOR (Drawn Into The Heart of Reading). The titles don't necessarily follow the HOD guide so that there is flexibilty based on dc reading level not history sequence. I agree with pp that you can get titles from your library. I would recommend the Bible reader as dc love to have a Bible they can read at their level and the plan is for 11 weeks of Bible reading. The schedule allows for dc to progress at their pace so it is great that your dc is finished with phonics instruction and ready for ER before finishing a HOD guide. Reading is so individual, I see reading as a true miracle from God as I can't explain how one day phonics instruction becomes ER! God truly wants every one of us to read HIS Word! Enjoy!
Tammy
Married 22 years
DD 20, 18, 6
DS 9
DITHOR 2/3, 4/5, and 6/7/8 since 2003, LHTH x2, LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger, Preparing, and CTC 9/2012

MeadowWay wrote: he will need the readers, then I should only be purchasing the "ER's for the last half of the guide, right?

Whenever he starts the ERs, you start with one of the Bibles, then move through the other books. When he finishes the last ER he should be at a reading level where he's ready to move onto DITHoR. You don't need to use the exact books Carrie has listed. However, if you use them Carrie has a schedule and questions in the guide's appendix for you. It doesn't matter where in a guide you start the ERs. Start whenever your child is ready. hth.

MeadowWay wrote:first I would like to ask how exactly we would define "emerging reader" ?
I am thinking it would mean having been done with phonics and they are reading on their own.
So that brings me to the next question: Is that what the child would be doing , reading aloud to the parent with the selected books designated "emerging reader"
And now one more question I began my child with HOD halfway during the school year (Jan.) and because he is in phonics instruction mode, we were advised not to purchase the "ER" But by fall, he should be done with his phonics instr., so I am thinking I would indeed need to purchase the "ER" (remember we will still have 1/2 of the guide to finish up) and if the answer is yes , he will need the readers, then I should only be purchasing the "ER's for the last half of the guide, right?
thanks for your help
Blessings
KK

You've defined emerging readers correctly, and you are right that the child is to read the emerging readers aloud to you. This is an exciting stage of reading, isn't it?!? Whenever your child finishes phonics and can read a "Frog and Toad" type book quite smoothly, with maybe just a word or two to work through on a page or so, he is ready to begin the HOD Emerging Reader's Set. Some dc require another year of phonics in a different phonics program to progress to the emerging reader's stage, and some only need the one year of phonics. If your child is reading at this level, then you would just begin the Emerging Reader's Set whenever he has completed his phonics program. For one of our dc, this was in the middle of LHFHG. We simply got the Beyond Little Heart's guide and the Emerging Reader Set of books from HOD and began it. The questions HOD has written in the Appendix of Beyond (or Bigger) to go along with the Emerging Reader's Set are integral to the set. They teach reading comprehension skills and beginning oral narration skills, and they were specifically written to go with each day's reading within the Emerging Reader's Set. They are important to do, and a stepping stone to being prepared to do "Drawn into the Heart of Reading Level 2/3". There is much more to HOD's emerging reader's set than just reading the books. There are carefully planned questions using both Bloom's Taxonomy and beginning oral narration skills Charlotte Mason style. I'd be sure to do them! HTH!

In Christ,
Julie