Young reader with DITHOR

[ALB]

I just have a question about pacing for reading. I plan to start LHFHG with my dd right before she turns 5 in February. She has been doing a phonics program already for about 6 months and is just flying through it. I never would have tried to teach her to read this young, but she's extremely motivated and was figuring it out by herself, so I figured it was time to begin. We'll finish her phonics soon (using Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading) since she wants to do it everyday and we often cover a few lessons at a time. So, I guess I should buy the Emerging Readers to use with LHFHG? My question then is that she'll only be 6 (or younger) when we finish those. Do we then do DITHOR or is that way too much to ask of a 6 yr. old? We don't have a library or anything, so it's a bit hard to find extra books for reading practice. Or, should I wait to start the ER books (although she is really eager to read!). Another option would be to reed the DITHOR 2 books but not actually do the guide until the next year.
Anyone else have experience with this? We are going to the US for Christmas and I'm excited to buy our books for the next couple of years then (or as many as will fit in our suitcases .
Thanks, Angela

[busymama]

Angela,
I had a similar experience. My son flew through phonics and the emerging readers set. But as I looked over DITHOR, while I found that I really loved the looks of it (and now love it altogether), at that time it seemed a little too advanced for my kiddo, especially considering all of the handwriting that goes with it. So I bought the Level 2 bookpack, and just had him read them to me. We would end the reading with some discussion, and he really enjoyed that. At that time I felt that it was more important to first develop a genuine love of reading. I've loved reading all of my life, and I wanted to make sure he did as well, without bogging him down with extra work that he might not be ready for. So far, the plan seems to have worked-he reads every day on his own, and is always begging me for more books.
Once we finished the Level 2 bookpack we moved on to the Level 3 and then we started DITHOR. I think it's a wonderful reading program, and we both are excited over doing it this year. But I definitely know that it was the right thing to do to wait on it. He is getting so much more out of it this year than I believe he would've last year, and while he's still a slow writer it's manageable. Starting DITHOR with the level 2, or of course the emerging reader set would have backfired on me, I'm afraid.
So, whatever you decide to work out with your child, I wish you much success! I just wanted to share this in the hopes that it would help you in your decision.

[MistyP]

My DD is 7 yo (in August) and we are doing DITHOR 2 books. The workbook is a bit of a struggle for her but getting easier. I usually help her with it or have her tell me the answers verbally. She loves the books though and it doing a great job in reading.

[ALB]

Thanks for the suggestions! So does it sound ok to get the ER's for LHFHG and use them at 5 yr.old, then buy the DITHOR 2 book pack to just have her read to me during Beyond at 6 yr., then do the actual DITHOR guide with level 3 books at 7 yrs. old? I know this sounds like LOTS of planning ahead, but I have to buy for a few years at a time so I can bring it back in my suitcases when I have the chance.

[pjdobro]

Another couple of options for you would be to get the extra reading books, the supplemental titles, that are listed in the emerging reader schedule for your dd to read either as you are doing the emerging readers or after. That way you could stretch the emerging readers out. There are also more books listed at the end of the emerging reader schedule that could be added after the emerging readers. One other idea is to do both Bible options for the emerging readers. That would stretch out the emerging readers another 9 weeks. I agree with the pps that I would hold off actually starting DITHOR until a bit later. You are in a unique situation to have to be prepare several years ahead of time. Your suitcases are going to be really heavy on your return trip!

[ALB]

I know, our suitcases always max the weight limit . Thankfully, we can take 8 pieces of luggage now, so I think we'll be okay. My dh laughs at how I fill them up with books and he fills his with running shoes and coffee. We all have our "things".
Thats a good idea to stretch out the ERs. I think I'd prefer to do that, I just want to provide her with enough to read so that she keeps up her enjoyment of it and continues gaining fluency.

[my3sons]

... So does it sound ok to get the ER's for LHFHG and use them at 5 yr.old, then buy the DITHOR 2 book pack to just have her read to me during Beyond at 6 yr., then do the actual DITHOR guide with level 3 books at 7 yrs. old?...

Yes, that sounds just fine! We did the ERS with LHFHG, and we stretched it out by doing both Bibles like the pp said. We loved it! When we started the Level 2 Book Pack in Beyond, we just slowly read through them and enjoyed discussing them, as busymama did. We then started DITHOR half-speed when I thought ds was ready. Here's a post where I described how we did DITHOR half-speed with him and eased him into it...
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=7404&p=54192

In Christ,
Julie