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I've been window shopping, pricing what we need next and for whom. That way I can present dh with the prospective bill and butter him up! Just kidding. I am going to be starting DITHOR with my oldest son, 8 yr., as he starts Bigger this upcoming school year. As I was ordering, I noticed a Level 2 Pack. What is included in this and is it necessary for us? It is a bit of added cost, but I'm all for ordering what is going to make things easier. Having the books on hand as opposed to having to take my 4 young'uns to "look" for books that fit the genre would be helpful. (Right now, an outing is very stressful due to a 2 yr. old who now can escape the stoller, wants independence, but is a runner. ). Anyway, anyone have suggestions about the packages and what is offered in them? Thanks a lot.

Kimi,

Will this be your first time to use DITHOR? It's wonderful! I used it for the first time this year with my 8 yo. We have had a lot of fun with reading and the projects! If you don't have it already, you'll need the teacher's guide. You'll also need the 2/3 student book. You can order these as a package that also includes a book list Carrie put together. The teacher's guide is used for as long as you're doing DITHOR (like the next 20 years! ). You are allowed to copy the pages in the student book for your own family's use if you desire to.

You were asking about the Level 2 book pack right? I purchased this for this year for the same reasons you mentioned. (I also have a 2 yo who loves to run...and climb. Not always a good combo in the library! ) This book pack contains books from each of the 9 genres. It comes with all the books listed, and then a single page schedule that tells you how many days you'd spend on each book. You will be reading from each genre for 15 days. So, the genres that have more than one book listed have you spending 10 days on one book and 5 on the other to equal 15 days.

I think the book packs are great to purchase. They're great books to actually own, plus having them on my shelf keeps us from putting off starting a new one because I'm not making a trip to town to the library that day or week. Convenience! (Plus I know I'll be using them again over the next several years.)

Kathleen

Kathleen- This will be my first time using DITHOR. I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also a bit overwhelmed as well. But I know that it has to be wonderful...all the HOD curriculum I've experienced thus far has been (LHFHG and Beyond). Thank you for the response. I think it will be to my advantage to go ahead and purchase the book package this time around. Maybe next year I'll venture out on my own and let ds have more freedom to choose. Right now, having the books handy will be a great convenience. I'm thankful that Carrie makes this so easy by offering the books in such a manner. Again, thank you!!

Kimi,

You'll do great with DITHOR! I'm sure of it! The discussion questions do a great job of encouraging your child to think, but they're nothing too difficult. Carrie has written it in a way that guides you right through just like the other HOD guides.

If you want to let you child pick a book to read, you could set several from the pack out and let him pick which one to start with. You can do the genres in any order. We've jumped around this year. You may want to give him a choice of ones with the lowest reading level to start with.

Have fun!
Kathleen