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My dd is 7 and we just started DITHR level 2/3 for 2nd grade. She has been through LHFHG and Beyond already. So she has some background in the discussions about genre and literary characteristics. The writing it out for the student workbook is new and challenging though. How much would be advisable for me to help her? I've been thinking that it's probably ok for me to give her hints and guide some of her writing of the answers, and that it will gradually become more her own thinking and analysis over the year. Is that right?

Also - how much should be done without looking back at the book? I know CM felt that narrations should be done after one hearing, to train good listening habits. But for doing the character webs and personal points and other activities like that, is it ok to let my dd look back through the book for ideas? This isn't addressed one way or the other that I can find in the DITHR guide.

Thanks!

I did a lot of writing for my DD when we started. Her handwriting wasn't good enough or small enough to do the worksheets. Now she can write, but it is difficult for her to compose and focus on making it look neat at the same time. Often it is suggested in the Teacher's Guide to discuss, write the answers on a white board, and let them child copy it into the student book. I do this more than suggested even. I know this is the introduction to writing about what you read, but if sheer writing itself is holding her back then I would say help her out.

Sometimes we look back, usually at the pictures too. This is not narration, that should be done after one hearing. This is more like analysis. I think it is okay to go back and review it.