Choosing a reading level for dd

[mamabeavabjo]

I'm trying to decide which reading level my dd will fit into in the fall. She will be 9 and in 3rd grade. Currently, she easily reads books by Beverly Cleary and also has most recently read Kaya the American Girl doll book. She can tell me what she has read and I believe is comprehending it well. For school, we currently use the Sonlight readers, and she is able to read something like The Littles quite easily. The problem for me is that she can read almost anything, and give me the main points of what happened, but I don't know when something is abover her leve? KWIM? We also us Writing With Ease 2 so she is familiar with narration and dictation, but she doesn't do any written narrations on her own. We will be using Bigger in the fall and I'm planning to use some of the extension books for her because she loves history. Should I use level 3 readers or lever 4/5 readers or is it okay to mix them up? Any advice would be appreciated!
Blessings,
Stephanie

[pjdobro]

If I'm understanding correctly, you are trying to decide what level of books to choose for DITHR. Is that correct? I looked up reading levels on some of the books that you mentioned and they range from around a level 3 to high level 4 reading levels. I think the idea in DITHR is to make the reading level comfortable and not too stretched so that the dc can focus on the analysis of the book. It's ok to mix and match the books that you choose for DITHR, but it sounds like from what she is currently reading that the level 3 books (ranging from 3.5 to 5.1) would be right on target for her. The level 4/5 wouldn't be much beyond what she is currently reading, but it would be a little beyond. I would be inclined to go towards the level 3 books just so you can focus more on the analysis and writing involved in DITHR. If there are some in the level 4/5 pack that are particularly interesting to her though you could always mix and match but I would pay attention to the reading level and probably not choose the ones that are in the 5 reading range just yet. There is always next year to use these wonderful books too.