Need help choosing Reader Pack for ds

[tbarr12]

I am nearly ready to place my order for CTC. Now that I've finally decided to do it, I am getting really excited! Anyway, my last outstanding question is which Boy Interest Book Pack to place my son in, 4th grade, newly 9 yo. He is an excellent reader - scored somewhere in the 6th grade range on standardized testing, but doesn't read much as a hobby. I will be doing 2/3 DITHOR with him, as he gets overwhelmed by too complicated of an assignment or directions, and too much writing. However, I don't want to underchallenge him with his reading. I've looked at the reader levels for the 2/3 pack, and 4/5 pack. The 2/3 pack would be comfortable for him, the 4/5 pack would be challenging, but probably doable with lots of encouragement from me. I am leaning toward the 4/5 pack. Sometimes I feel that I make things almost too easy for my kids, for fear of over-challenging them. I was just wondering if someone who's had experience with either or both of those book packs could maybe give me their thougths. Thanks so much!

[momtofive]

Hi! I'm relatively new here too! From what I understand of the scheduling of DITHR in the CTC guide, you'll only be going through 5 genres this coming year (as the guide is written). Of course, you could do more if you chose to do that. But that would give him two years to go through the book pack. Just a little more info to help you make your decision. My son is going into fifth grade, will be 10 two weeks after school starts, and isn't a huge reader for "fun", but loves a good story. The great titles in the book packs just may lure him in to being more of a reader! I just so happen to have the Optional Book Recommendations pages that came with my order a few weeks ago. It lists the reading levels for each book.

In the 4/5 book pack the books are as follows:
Jed Smith: Trailblazer of the West (4.9)
The Black Stallion (5.3)
The Sign of the Beaver (4.9)
Little Pilgrim's Progress (5.0)
Scripture Sleuth 2 (4. -the smiley is supposed to be an eight!
Scripture Sleauth 3 (4.7)
Buffalo Bill: Frontier Daredevil (4.0)
Dragons of the Deep (5.7)
Tales from Dust River Gulch (4.7)
More Tales from Dust River Gulch (4.6)
The Toothpaste Millionaire (5.0)
Gentle Ben (5.0)
I hope this can help you! I know it would have helped me a few weeks ago!

In Christ,
Lisa

[momtofive]

Hi again tbarr12,

I am sorry, I would have included more in the last post, but it wouldn't let me type more!!

Anyway, it may help you to know what the reading levels of each book are for the level 3 book pack as well.
Here they are:
Louis Braille (3.-don't know why the smiley it's supposed to be an eight!
Alexander Hamilton (3.9)
Toliver's Secret (4.7)
Sarah, Plain and Tall ( 3.5)
Matchlock Gun (5.1)
Catwings (4.3)
A Mouse Called Wolf (4.4)
The Mystery of Pelican Cove (4.1)
A Penny's Worth of Character (4.4)
Pocahontas (4.-again, the smiley is supposed to be an eight, sorry!
One Small Square: Tropical Rain Forest (no level is listed)
Owls in the Family (4.9)
Year of Miss Agnes (4.5)

The levels listed are supposed to be pretty close to the corresponding grade level. So this would actually include about a high third grade, fourth grade and low fifth grade reading levels. This may help as well! Since you may only need five books (for DITHR the way it is scheduled in CTC), you could really pick and choose what you son would like from either level! Blessings as you decide!

In Christ,
Lisa

[my3sons]

With it being his first year in DITHOR, I'd probably choose books that he could read quite well at a pace that he finds manageable. One thing you could do - since CTC schedules DITHOR 3 days a week, on the fourth day, you could just have him read a chapter. This would let him read less pages on the other 3 days of the week. I guess if it were me, if I was looking at one pack and thinking it would be a big struggle, and another pack and thinking he'd do well with it but still be challenged by some of the books and by the DITHOR plans and Student Book, I'd be inclined to pick the pack that would not be a struggle. But, you will certainly know best here! HTH as you ponder.

In Christ,
Julie