please explain DITHOR to me again

[kiloyd]

I've read about it in the catalog and its sounds great and all but I guess I don't really get it without holding it in my hand and looking it over. I haven't started it yet and we just finished Bigger and will start Preparing soon (4th grade). It seems like it will add even more to our day. DS already reads a lot, non-fiction and fiction, would it just be reading but projects to do with it? I don't really get it. Am I doing a not so good thing if we don't do it?

Thank you!

[Busymomma1]

It's more than just projects. It leads dc in analyzing the literature based on Godly character traits, as well as analyzing elements of literature (character, mood, setting, etc). So it definitely is just more than reading and projects. It helps kids to think about what they are reading as it relates to God's word. I like it, b/c we can discuss how a character could've done something differently (ie: in a more godly fashion). And looking to the future, I'm glad that we will have done this approach b/c when our kids may come across a book that has some "unsavory characters" in them, they'll have a framework to put it into (ie: not just accept bad behavior as an example to live by, but perhaps they'll be in the habit of looking at the character as related to Godly traits and analyze along those lines). Plus, the projects are fun, too! In fact, my dd asked me if we were going to do book projects again this year. I told her we were, and she's happy about that!

Just my 2 cents...

PS: I'm trying to hurry here, so I hope it makes sense!

[kiloyd]

Thank you , that does make sense.

How about the time it adds to your day? I think I remember Preparing takes about 4 hours. I"ll be doing LHFHG with my 5 yr old too. And we like to do stuff in the afternoon some days. How much does DITHOR add? Or is it something you can do just twice a week?

[my3sons]

DITHOR provides the reading instruction for dc that are beyond the emerging reader's stage of reading. It is incredibly important to do as it covers all the reading skills necessary for dc to learn. DITHOR has done so much for our dc's reading. At a young age, our dc read well, and pretty quickly reached the point they could read almost anything they could put their hands on. But, DITHOR took their reading to the next level. It taught them to read analytically and morally, with comprehension in mind at many levels - spiritually and academically.

DITHOR is what makes it possible for me not to fear teaching lit. in high school someday, because I know DITHOR has my back covered. My ds actually scored at the 12th grade level for reading on his standardized testing this year (he's in fourth grade). This is due to DITHOR. He's been doing it for about 4 years. I don't take a ton of stock in test scores, but when it comes to reading comprehension, DITHOR works wonders while still keeping a passion for reading going, and while still keeping Christ front and center. That's a tall order. There is simply nothing like it. Reading excellent books is so important, but DITHOR takes that idea and builds on it to create a solid scope and sequence of reading skills necessary for dc as they move toward higher level thinking in upper grades. It's well worth the time it will add to your day, and it doesn't add all that much anyway. Here's a link that will help out with the time increments for that, and for PHFHG and LHFHG in general too:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4244&p=31219#p31219

Here's an old post where I explained why I love DITHOR in more detail:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=4372&p=32131#p32131

I have never been one to think a large stack of books my dc have read shows they've made big reading progress. They could do that when they were quite little. DITHOR takes a smaller, carefully chosen pile of books and teaches dc to savor them as well as to learn deeply from them. I just want to encourage you that DITHOR is going to be a whole new, very significant way to teach reading to your dc, and I think you'll find it such a rich way to do it! Glad you asked!!!

In Christ,
Julie

[Kathleen]

Another DITHOR-loving family here! Julie and Tricia have already explained so well what the purpose of DITHOR is and what it does for teaching your kids. I just wanted to mention, that since DITHOR is scheduled in Preparing, the time estimates for completing the dialy work assumes that you ARE using it - not that it's an add-on. (Now, my oldest has struggled with dawdling and drawing things out at times. So we did have some days that took much longer than they should have. I can't remember if you've said that's an issue with your oldest or not. BUT...I can see how time diligently spent working on the habit of focusing on the job at hand is paying big dividends now! Praise the Lord! He's doing great with his "job" this year in CTC! )

Kathleen

[kiloyd]

Thank you Julie, that really helped! I thought about DITHOR last year with Bigger in 3rd grade but never added it.

Kathleen, yes my son is a dawdler! I'm going go make use of the timer this year and work hard to focus myself which will help keep him focused. I think my dd should be easy, she likes school since she sees her brother do it.

Where is DITHOR scheduled? What section in the guide? I haven't noticed it when I looked over the first sample week.

Oh! I'm getting excited! As much as I want summer to last I do love HOD.

[MomtoJGJE]

ooh I can help there! It's in the LA section.... 3 times a week