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My oldest 2 will be starting Preparing next week. They have not completed the emerging readers set. They are on "The Courage Of Sarah Noble". Should I have them finish out the Emerging Readers with Preparing and then jump into DITHOR or start right into DITHOR with Preparing?

I haven't done Preparing yet (although my 5th grader is doing it next year) but I've been looking thru the guide and I'm not sure how well Preparing could be done by a child that isn't a fluid reader yet. There is a lot of independent reading they are to do (History and Science), as well as a lot of written work thru poetry, paragraph writing, etc.

I'm sure more seasoned mamas can chime in. I purposefully chose NOT to go forward with Preparing with my other son that is 9 because while he is actually a pretty strong reader, he's NOT strong yet in written work and the amount of written work I thought would be overwhelming. I would imagine the same to be true for the reading portion.

I'm guessing you could read everything to them however!

I think Shannon's kids have already been through BIgger. I would finish out the emerging readers. If you are chomping at the bit to start DITHOR, you could do the rest of the readers over the summer (Or are you starting Preparing over the summer as well?).

I agree, just finish out the ERs then start DITHOR. They don't have to match up with anything in the guide!

I know guides.progress from one.to Tue next but that's assuming you finish the skills in the guide. Reading ability in this case of Preparing isn't actually about DITHOR ....more.of.being able to tackle the books in Preparing. id consider not starting dithor OR Preparing until they've finished the books or you know they are fully capable of reading the independently books independently. they don't habe to be excellent at it and comprehend.wonderfully at.the start, but he able to read the directions and.get.the gist of the reading are very important. having not gone.beyond the level of the emerging readers would cause me to move.forwsrd with the core guide with great caution.

They are both fluent readers. They tackle the emerging readers with great ease. I had considered stopping emerging readers sometime ago, but they both wanted to read the books in the set, so we kept at it. Maybe I will quicken their pace with the ER set.

Shannon,

I just wanted to pop-in and clarify whether your kiddos are coming out of Beyond or Bigger right now? I got confused when I read a different thread of yours that is also running on the board right now, mentioning going from Beyond into Preparing, which is why I ask.

This will make a huge difference in the advice we give on this particular question, as typically we wouldn't consider a child who is still doing the Emerging Readers to be ready for the level of reading that is required within Preparing.

Blessings,
Carrie

I mistyped.

They are going from Bigger to Preparing...