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Hi!

Let me give you a "for example" to answer my questions. My ds is 9 and will begin Preparing... in the Fall and since we are new to HOD I believe I should begin him with DITHOR level 2/3, but level 3 books. If I buy the level 3 book pack, is that all I will need as far as books in the program (including the TG and Student Book, of course) or will I still need more books to complete a year in DITHOR level 3? Would I get them at the library?

Also, within a package there are 2 levels ie. 2/3, 4/5... If you don't buy the "book pack" and use library books, how do you know which books are for level 2 and level 3? Do the book lists provided also list what book is for what level?

So, when he's ready for the DITHOR 4/5 package there is only 1 "Book Pack" for two levels. How do you know which books are for which level within the book pack ie. level 4 or level 5? So we would use the 4/5 package for 2 years, but how do we know what books are for the level 4 and what books are for the level 5?

Finally, is it selfexplanitory in the DITHOR Teacher's Guide and Student books what pages are to be done with level 4 and then reserved for level 5?

Sorry for the dumb questions! Having never seen any of the materials, these questions keep coming up for me. I'm just the kind of person who needs to have it all figured out ahead of time and even down the road to feel confident in the present!

Thanks in advance for your replies!

Well, you'll be doing exactly what I'm just finishing this year - PHFHG and DITHOR. You are in for some fun, Michelle! I've used DITHOR basically since it was first published, so I will be glad to answer your questions.

Let me give you a "for example" to answer my questions. My ds is 9 and will begin Preparing... in the Fall and since we are new to HOD I believe I should begin him with DITHOR level 2/3, but level 3 books. If I buy the level 3 book pack, is that all I will need as far as books in the program (including the TG and Student Book, of course) or will I still need more books to complete a year in DITHOR level 3? Would I get them at the library?

First, I think you've made a good decision to begin your ds in Level 2/3. You'll need the Teacher's Guide, the Level 2/3 Student book, and the Sample book ideas list (which is included in the package anyway). As far as the books your ds reads, you can either use the Sample book ideas list to choose your own books, or you can use HOD's book packs. We've done both and enjoyed both ways.

If you choose your own books, you need to choose 1 to 3 books for each of the 9 genres. Plan on spending 15 days of reading for each genre. So, you may either want to read 1 longer book for 15 days, 2 books spending 5 days on 1 book and 10 days on the other book, or 3 books spending 5 days on each of them. You would fill out the Reading Calendar as you do each genre, and there is a blank calendar like this in the Student Book for each genre. Or, if you choose one of HOD's DITHOR book packs, all of this is done for you, and you can just follow the number of days for each book that is online (or it is also in the HOD catalog). The Level 2 DITHOR Book Pack has reading levels between 3rd. and 4th. grade. The Level 3 DITHOR Book Pack has reading levels between 3rd. grade fifth month and 5th. grade first month. Here is a link to the online chart that lists the books, the reading levels, and the number of days to spend reading each of them:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into-optional.php

Also, within a package there are 2 levels ie. 2/3, 4/5... If you don't buy the "book pack" and use library books, how do you know which books are for level 2 and level 3? Do the book lists provided also list what book is for what level?

Any ONE of the DITHOR book packs will last you for 9 genres, which is the whole year doing DITHOR 5 days a week for 9 months. I'm sure you could probably get the books at the library - depending on what titles your library has. (Though if funds permit, you may just want to get them so you have them on hand as you need them - just speaking from my own personal experience with our library and late fees .)

So, when he's ready for the DITHOR 4/5 package there is only 1 "Book Pack" for two levels. How do you know which books are for which level within the book pack ie. level 4 or level 5? So we would use the 4/5 package for 2 years, but how do we know what books are for the level 4 and what books are for the level 5?

There are two different Level 4/5 Book packs. One is girl interest, and one is boy interest. Even though we have a boy, we will probably do both of the sets over time, just because all of the titles are awesome. I may sub in some books from the Sample Book Ideas list if I think some of the titles are too girly , but right now looking at it, I think my ds would enjoy those titles too.

Also, I wanted to point out that once you get to PHFHG in the HOD cycle, DITHOR is only schedule 3 days a week, rather than 5 days a week. This results in finishing about 5 genres a year. So, you could actually do about half of whatever Level 4/5 set you got one year, and the other half the next year + 1 more book of your choice. If you are doing either BHFHG or a younger HOD guide, DITHOR is scheduled 5 days a week, in which case you'd get through 9 genres in a year and need enough books for all 9 genres. Is this clear at all? Below is a link to the two DITHOR Level 4/5 Book packs, and you can see the books, their reading levels, and the number of days to spend on each:
http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into-optional4-5.php


Finally, is it selfexplanitory in the DITHOR Teacher's Guide and Student books what pages are to be done with level 4 and then reserved for level 5?

If you do DITHOR for 5 days each week of school, then you will go through all of the genres and all of the Level 4/5 plans in one 9 month school year. Then, the next school year, you would choose different books and use the same Level 4/5 plans again. The different books make the discussions and student book answers completely different, so this works fine.

If you do DITHOR for 3 days each week of school, then you will go through 1/2 of the genres one school year using half of the Level 4/5 plans. Then, the next school year you will go through the other half of the genres and use the other half of the Level 4/5 plans.

... I'm just the kind of person who needs to have it all figured out ahead of time and even down the road to feel confident in the present! Thanks in advance for your replies!

I'm that kind of person too - so I totally understand the questions. I hope I've not made things more confusing - if I have, please ask more questions.

In Christ,
Julie