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Hi friends,
I have reviewed the book and LOVE it! I am wondering though, does it cover comprehension? I am not sure how to be really checking comprehension when my child is beginning to read more independently. Do I need to be reading all the books they are in order to know if they are growing in their comprehension skills? Anyone have any advice for this area or is anyone able to tell me if Drawn Into addresses that?

Thanks so much!

sbarr,

I'll move your post over to the Main Board where more moms will see it. All new posts begin on the Main Board.

In answer to your question though, Yes! Every 5th day in DITHR is a reading comprehension check day at all levels.

One wonderful component of DITHR is that it will teach you how to have a good literary discussion with your kiddos. It will give you wonderful guided questions and easy ways to dig a little deeper beneath the surface of what the kiddos are reading. It is a different way of looking at reading, with the ultimate goal being for kiddos to learn to read with discernment.

There's no need to read the kiddos books ahead of time or even as they're reading them (unless you hate to miss out), because the design of the questions in DITHR lead kiddos to delve into what they're reading and find the answers for themselves. The questions do not require one right answer, but instead require deeper thinking. So, there's usually not "wrong" answers, just "better" ones. And, as kiddos go through the program, their answers will automatically get "better" as they think more deeply.

Plus at Level 2/3 the kiddos are doing most of the reading aloud to you and at 4/5 they are still reading several pages aloud on alternating days. This really helps me keep in touch with what my children are reading. You can also always skim a bit of the book if needed to jump start the discussion if the child isn't forthcoming with many thoughts, by asking "What about the part where...?" Or, "How about this part of the chapter where....?" Anyway, you'll get into a flow as you go. It is truly easier than it looks!

Blessings,
Carrie

sbarr wrote:Hi friends, I have reviewed the book and LOVE it! I am wondering though, does it cover comprehension?...

Yes, yes, and... YES! DITHOR has helped teach my dc reading comprehension so well. Our discussions have improved tenfold from when we began DITHOR. I have been looking ahead to high school lit, which used to frighten me, and now I am so at peace about it. DITHOR is preparing my dc for difficult high school lit beautifully. I think it is the combination of prereading strategies, higher level thinking skills, application and analysis questions, exposure to every genre in a balanced way, comprehension questions / discussions / Student Book assignments, and story element instruction. AND, I love the moral discernment the Godly Character Trait study is giving my dc. I also enjoy the kickoffs and final projects in each unit - the dc look forward to these so much. Finally, the BOOKS... the books HOD has in the book packs are simply the BEST. I do not preread the books. I follow the DITHOR TG's plans, and for 2/3 they read each day out loud, so that's easy to keep tabs on. For 4/5, they read aloud 3-4 pages every other day, and I skim on the other days. For 6/7/8, I skim the reading, skimming a page at the beginning, a page in the middle, and a page at the end of each day's reading. I do this right before meeting with my ds. I also still have him read 2 pages aloud to be on the days we meet (to keep those good oral reading skills intact). This has worked so well! Our dc cannot wait to read more each day. I recommend DITHOR to everyone - it is an outstanding reading program. It is a wonderful way to teach reading skills and keep dc learning!

In Christ,
Julie