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Help! My dd (7.5) just started DITHOR 2/3 today with reading the biography Amelia Earhart from the level 2 bookpack. She had a really hard time reading this aloud to me which is very surprising since she usually is a very fluent reader. I don't think that it is the book level since she usually reads books on the same reading level as listed with the level 2 bookpack. She had a very hard time sounding out words (mostly names), as well as following the sentences. She would end up leaving out words or adding extra words in and I would have to stop her and have her reread it. It took well over 30 minutes for her to read only 7 pages! Needless to say, she was getting frustrated and so was I!! I don't want to overwhelm her but this should be the level she would start with, right?? She read through all of the Emerging Readers with little to no problems and she loves to read to herself a lot of books including American Girl, Boxcar Children, Young Classics,etc. She can tell me about the story after she finishes each chapter and at the end of the book, so I know she is understanding what she is reading. On her achievement test this spring, she scored between a 4.0 and 4.8 grade level in the different areas of testing in reading (comprehension, fluency, etc) so I thought that DITHOR 2/3 with level 2 books would be perfect for her this year. I thought that next time I would have her read less pages for the day, but I want to stick to the DITHOR schedule and activities that correlate with each of the 15 days given for each genre. She struggled through the first couple of pages today and that is before she became "worn out", so I'm not sure if reading less pages a day would help anyway. Maybe I should stick with books on an easier level but I have already bought ALL the books listed in the level 2 bookpack and I'm not sure what books to use for each genre on an easier level ( I don't have the booklist). She did tell me that she has a much easier time reading books "in her head" and that she can't get the words out when she reads aloud. But isn't she supposed to read aloud all the pages to me at this level?? I know it is only the first day, but I'm not sure if we can keep up at this rate before she starts to dislike reading! Any advice??

Hi Jenea,

My daughter has finished the 7th day of reading the Amelia Earhart book. Don't become frustrated! I know exactly what you are talking about with this book. I have come to the conclusion that it is some of the vocabulary in this book that is a bit unfamiliar for her (pinafore, embroidered, ferocious, aeroplane etc.) I too began to worry if I hadn't picked the right level. However, the 6th and 7th days have been much easier for her now that she has gotten the names of people and places memorized). I had her read a page from another book of this same level and she didn't have any problems. So I think it is more this particular book that is a little harder for her. We'll see how the next ones go. We have kept plugging away at it though because the subject matter fits her perfectly (she is an adventurous, spirited girl herself) so she really loves to hear about Amelia's adventures. I would try making a list of the names of the people and places in this book and go over them with her a few times and see if that helps.
Here is a small list to start:
Amelia Earhart (of course) "Melia"
Muriel "Pidge"
Ferocious
Des Moine
Otis
Atchison
Katchie

HTH,
Leah

I agree with Leah! I also have a 7 yo dd who is an advanced reader, and I noticed the same thing. We just finished day 6 though, and it has been going much smoother. I just make sure to sit next to her and follow along and help her with any unfamiliar words if she can't sound them out right away. She really enjoys the book.

I would give it a little more time and I bet it will start to get better. The first couple days I even offered to read a couple pages when my dd seemed to be getting "worn out" like you mentioned.

BTW, my dd will also be using Beyond this year and DITHOR 2/3.

Thank you Tammy and Leah!

I'm glad to hear that we are not the only family that "struggled" with this book! It is very encouraging to hear that your daughters are doing better now that they have read the first few chapters. It gives me hope that it will get better for my dd! I'm really bad about second- guessing my decisons at times and this just shows me that I need to be more patient and encourage her more when she seems to be losing her patience. I believe that this will be an excellent program and my dd was REALLY excited to see the books in her book pack on box day and she wanted to get started right away!

Leah, I love your idea about writing down the more difficult words for her so she can go over them with me. I can also tie this into the vocab. assignment for day #2 since some of the words (pinafore, ferocious) are new to her. Tammy, I really like your idea about me stepping in and reading a couple of pages when I notice that she is getting worn out. My dd told me at bedtime tonight that she wants to keep reading this book for at least a couple more chapters, so she must be intrigued by what she has read so far even if she did struggle!

How many pages in this particular book are you having your dd read aloud each day? A chapter? I am trying to break it up so we can cover the entire book in the recommended 15 days but maybe that is too much for my dd. I wonder if I should try to stretch it out a few extra days.

Thanks again!

I'm so glad I was able to help! Dd is reading 7 pages each time we do DITHOR. This was how I split it up to get it done in 15 days. It was taking a long time at first(Didn't keep track). Yesterday she finished in under 20 minutes. So persevere, it should get better. Glad to hear she wants to continue reading it. It is a really good book and dd and I are enjoying it. You can stretch it out a little if you want to but I think if you follow Tammy's advice and read a couple pages in the middle of the session (at least for the next few days) it will probably go a little better. If you do wind up needing to stretch it out you could alternate 'reading only' on some days and 'reading and doing a workbook page' on other days. This would have an effect on how many books you finish in DITHOR this year though.

Leah

We are doing a chapter a day since there happen to be 15 chapters in this book. You could certainly break the reading up a bit more if it seems to be too much...or even read half in the morning and half in the afternoon.

I consider DITHOR to be a challenging program for a 7 year old, so I have no problem "helping" to get the chapter read right now. Especially since this is the beginning of the "school year" and a brand new program. In fact, today dd asked me to finish the last page since it was a pretty long chapter. (I know it's Saturday, but she REALLY wanted to do it!!)

Some vocabulary words for pages 49-56:
examining
admiring
bluff
basin
fluttered
handkerchief
sternly
greenery
wreath
holly
boughs
cranberries

Leah

You've already gotten some good advice from the ladies here, so I'll just chime in with one more idea - when you are reading together, alternate reading. So, you read a page, she reads a page - or, if it would be better, alternate reading by paragraphs.

The start of a book is always the hardest because new names, places, vocabulary, etc. must be learned. As dc keep reading, fewer words will be new each time. If she's really tried to sound out a word and not getting it, it's o.k. to just say it for her - have her pronounce it - and move on. She will grow into the books and into DITHOR - it's just a harder next step up of reading, that takes some adjustment. I would make sure not to allow her to read it in her head at this point, because that will not help her learn to read well orally with fluency, which is a reading skill meant to be learned in DITHOR. Keep on persevering, and she will knock your socks off with her reading in a few months or so!

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you again ladies for your advice!

My dd read the 2nd chapter aloud to me today (I don't usually have school on Sunday but she wanted to sit down and read with me!) and things went much smoother! Yes, she still left out and/or added words and had to sound out a few words, but overall, she read much better and her confidence was a lot stronger! She even jumped at the chance to write out her vocabulary assignment in her composition book and look up unknown words in her dictionary.
Chapter 2 seemed to be a shorter chapter so she didn't need me to help her read and she was able to finish it before getting worn out!

I will definately keep your suggestions in mind. I do feel like I made the right decision to use DITHOR and am looking forward to watching her grow in her reading fluency and understanding.

Some vocabulary words from pages 57-63
sleepily
impatiently
eagerly
bulges
polished
tufted
satin
taffeta
ankles

Leah

Vocabulary words for pp. 64-70
solid
enviously
shove
faintly
plodding
proud
modestly
pioneer

for pp. 71-77
interrupted
checkrein
considered
ruins (damages)
foam
angrier
rash (hasty)
grocery
Harold
argued
heaving
hastily
laundry

for pp. 78-84
preparatory
recite
recital
recitation
stanza
auditorium
rector
composition
Macaulay's
diplomas

Leah

The ladies are giving you terrific advice! One other suggestion would be to look over the books within the Level 2 pack and do the genres that seem to have easier reading first. You don't have to go in the order that the genres are listed on the DITHR guide, so set aside the books that are a higher reading level or look harder to do last, and begin with the simpler books. Of the books in the level 2 pack, I would say Amelia Earhart, Treasure of Pelican Cove, and Prairie School are the most difficult books. So, I'd save those for the year-end. Here's a link to the book pack levels, which will help: http://www.heartofdakota.com/drawn-into-optional.php

The transition to real chapter books is always a step up for kiddos, so plan to give your daughter time to grow into those skills. Just the sheer number of words on the page is often daunting for kiddos just heading into real chapter books.

Blessings,
Carrie

OK, this is the last time I will be bumping up this thread. I just didn't want to quit in case someone might be needing it. Here is the last set of vocabulary words.


pp.85-91
volunteer
Daugherty Field
pursuit
official
arranged
cockpit
gauges
propeller

pp.92-98
approached
taxied
breeches
aviation
concerned

pp.99-106
rubbers
trolley
solo
exciting
courage
dial
mechanic
shock absorber
gaining
altitude
swallowed

OK that's it. The book is done. Hope your dc enjoy it! My dd did.

Leah