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I have to admit that I have no idea how to read other than just for pleasure.... I remember what happens in books, but I don't know how to look deeper. SO, just to make sure we are on the right path, here are some examples from our first section of DITHOR....

on the Character Trait Web

Squanto - He is an Indian. He lives in a village. He likes to take adventures. He is going to go to the Pilgrim's land.

questions and answers...

1.) How can you speak English if you are an Indian? Because I come from England. (we discussed that he traveled to England)

2.) Why do most Indians have black hair? Because that is how God made them (we discussed genetics)

3.) Is Squanto your real name? Tisquantum is my real name.

4.) What are your mother and father's name? no answer (we can't find this anywhere )

Godly Character Sheet

Responsibility: Joseph stored food. He gave his brothers food to take to his father. Squanto told his mother and father that pilgrims were coming.

Diligence: Even if people complained, Joseph continued to store food. Squanto was tied up and he worked hard to get out.

Joseph would have taken care of his family just like Squanto did.

Are these the type of answers/thoughts you would expect from a level 2/3 7 year old? Or should I be having her look deeper?

MomtoJGJE wrote:...Are these the type of answers/thoughts you would expect from a level 2/3 7 year old? Or should I be having her look deeper?

I think that these questions and answers are just fine! Your dd is only 7 yo and just beginning DITHOR, so she has done well. As she gets older, her questions and answers will become more detailed, and her thought process behind her answers more in-depth. But, I think it is good to accept all answers that are correct to begin with, as this is the first goal of showing reading comprehension, and it's important dc gain confidence.

As dc get older, they can be encouraged to ask questions that have more than one word answers. Giving dc question starters such as, "Why?" and "How?" helps them think of questions that require more than one word answers. Not allowing dc to start their questions with words like "Is" or "Do" helps them stay away from one word answers. Likewise, as she grows, you can encourage her to add more detail to her answers. For example in her first answer, you could prompt more detail by saying, "Yes, Squanto was an Indian, but their were many different Indian tribes, do you remember the name of his tribe?" So, she'd write "Squanto was a Patuxet Indian in the Wampanoag Confederacy", etc. When we get to that point, in about Level 4/5, I don't require my ds to answer in complete sentences. This is a personal preference, but I have found much more details are forthcoming if my ds can just put a bullet next to them and list them out as detailed notes.

In general, the answers that dc give to their questions are based upon what they've learned from reading their book, and are not meant to become research questions they use other sources to answer (unless the DITHOR directions ask dc to do so). So, your dd's question, "What are Squanto's parents' names?" can be left blank for an answer if the book didn't answer it. If dc want to take it further on their own and try to research an answer (and it's possible - i.e. this wouldn't work for fantasy ), then they can enjoy doing that. But, learning that as readers we won't have all our questions answered by the close of the book is a good thing to learn.

I really look to the DITHOR Teacher's Guide for help in answering the Godly Character Trait questions about the Bible character we read about. They are excellent - and though you are more than likely using those already - I thought I'd mention it for others reading this post that may not have the DITHOR guide in hand yet. For the Godly traits compare/contrast activity, we usually find that Godly characters in general would have first looked to the Lord - whether that be for help or for praise - and they would have probably done so by going to Him in prayer, reading His word, choosing to surround themselves with like-minded Christians for companions, etc.

However, all of these things are minute details that aren't things to worry about as much in Level 2/3, especially if the child is only 7 yo. I just thought I'd mention them, so you can see the path of learning that is meant to take place through the years ahead. For now, your dd is doing great!

In Christ,
Julie

All right... thanks a lot! Since I have no idea how to read deeply, I didn't know how much SHE should be reading... the answers seemed fine to me, but I wanted to make sure We do talk about expanding her answers, but just talk right now. Like with the Squanto is an indian answer.... I counted her answer as correct and then asked her if she remembered what "type" of Indian he was.

Lora Beth,

I fully agree! The goal is for kiddos to feel that there isn't one right answer, but rather that they are to be constantly looking and thinking as they read. In the beginning of the DITHR journey, the answers children give will be very basic and straight-forward. But, I agree with you that it's great to discuss other options in a friendly conversational way while counting the answers the student gave correct! We do this too. It's rather like modeling how to think more deeply, without making the child feel like he/she didn't get the "right" answer.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks Carrie! It's good to know that I'm actually doing something "right"!