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I'm new on this forum and new to HOD. I have everything ready to start Bigger with my dd 8 and dd 9. (I plan to read the extension pack aloud.) We've all been excited but too busy to start - until today! My kids just begged and begged so we set aside time to begin DITHOR. Went through the day 1 intro and set up each of their schedules for the books. They sat down and began reading...

Well, my dd 9 did great with the longer chapter that was her assignment. Dd 8, when I checked on her after 15 - 20 minutes was 1 page away from finishing her book! We had set up her schedule to read 1 chapter a day for the first 5 days and she just whipped through it! I set her up thinking to start slowly since she doesn't typically love reading time, but she flipped that expectation on it's head! She's always asking "can I be done reading now?" She has typically read similar books at the one chapter a day pace.

So, my question... Should I have her re-read the same book to go through it more slowly and do the workbook pages and projects for each day, (which I would imagine would help her get more out of the book) or should we pick a new book to continue on as if we were starting again?

Also, my dd 9 went to bed tonight and read 2 more chapters of her book (again, scheduled to read 1 chapter a day). Am I supposed to keep the DITHOR books only for during that reading time and they should have other books to read at other times of the day? It seems that the whole point of DITHOR is to slow down and digest books, but my girls are too excited to go slow I guess. what a problem...

I would keep the DITHR books just for DITHR and give them other books that they can read at their leisure. It is good to take some books slow, so they can really learn those comprehension skills.

Yes, you may have to confiscate and hide the DITHOR books. I know I do! If I put them on the shelf, they will get read before the next school day. My kids now devour books. My little "emerging" reader just HAD to read all Amelia Bedelia in 2 days instead of 5 because she just couldn't wait. So we sat and did the whole book in 2 days, doing the questions and everything. My older 2 are worse. Give them some good books for leisure reading and hide the DITHOR books.

Yep - hide those DITHOR books! And only allow them to read what's scheduled. It really does work better this way as they get to think on the book for longer. I let my kids plow through other books in their free time, but their DITHOR or Emerging Readers are off limits! Or if they've already done a book for DITHOR or the Emerging Readers and we're done, they can pick it up and re-read it for fun at any time.

Here's an old thread where Carrie explains how that helps them learn... viewtopic.php?f=13&t=508 You'll have to scroll down a few posts to find her response.

Kathleen

Hiding the books seems to be the way to go. Thanks for the suggestion!

Another question... about how much time you have your kids read for DITHOR each day?