Making the jump from Emerging Readers

lil' ladies · Post by **lil' ladies** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 4:23 am

I'm nervous about making the jump from the emerging readers to DITHOR.

My dd9 has read most of the emerging readers already, but is still struggling with fluency, and we are also reviewing phonics this year (she did 2 years of school before homeschooling and was not taught phonics at school). So, I'm concerned about doing DITHOR, and think it may be too much for her.

How hard a program is it for the level 2 readers? Do they read aloud the readers or read them on their own? Would it be OK to just do the level 2 readers with her to continue to work on fluency and then do DITHOR next year with the level 3 readers? Does anyone else just do the readers on their own?

Annie

Tansy · Post by **Tansy** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 9:25 am

When we jumped into DITHOR (2nd grade) The work load was a bit much.
I handled it this way.. One month of DITHOR and one Month of reading for pleasure. This year I'm making sure I cover The genres we missed last year.

Also I would help her do some of the worksheets. She had the thoughts in her head but getting them into sentences is another story. So I would use a white board and remake the worksheet on the board. As we discussed the worksheet I would "translate" her answers into proper sentences. And put them up on the board. For homework she would copy the sentences into her workbook.

So that is my suggestion.

blessedmomof4 · Post by **blessedmomof4** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:08 am

I agree with Tansy's suggestions on this. My 4th grader was a struggling reader at the beginning of this school year and I did many of the same things.
Also, as for reading aloud-level 2/3 schedules independent reading on some days, and reading aloud to the parent on other days. Remember that there are 2 levels of reading books from which to choose, so you can pick the ones that are most appropriate, and that there is very little written work at this level.
You could also just do a few units a year over 2 years, instead of covering all 9 units in one year.

Kathleen · Post by **Kathleen** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 12:08 pm

Annie,

I have no actual experience with this yet...but here is what I'm planning to do.

(So this is still total trial-and-error on my part, not to mention that every child is different.

)

I'm new to HOD this year. I started with LHTH and loved it so much, that I found the HOD website and their programs for older kids. I'm going to start Bigger with my ds...soon. Since he has never done HOD, I'm going to make our own "book pack" from the Book Shop. If you look at the books in the level 2 book pack, it looks like they range from 3.0-4.2 on reading levels. (Third grade, 1st month - fourth grade, 2nd month)

Carrie has a book list with lots of books to chose from in the different genres. (I don't have it yet, so I don't know if it has reading levels, but I would think it would.) So my suggestion would be to pick books from the genres that you think your daughter would like that are at about the same reading level that the emerging readers are, so you can ease into DITHOR.

With my ds, I'm going to pick some of the books that were maybe used as read-alouds for Beyond or others that we didn't read that I think he would enjoy. You could do this and purposefully keep the reading level at what you think she can have success with. I know it's also good to challenge them once in awhile so they can move into something more difficult, but if you're worried about the transition, start with something you know she can read, so she enjoys it!

I hope that made some sense...I've been interrupted here.

Kathleen

Post by **Carrie** » Sun Mar 23, 2008 6:50 pm

Annie,

The ladies have given you such wonderful advice!

I do think that that it's important to pick books that your daughter can be successful with as Kathleen suggested. So, if you look at the level 2 book pack,and it seems too difficult, choose the ones you think she could read and love from the Level 2 set and build your own book set for her (based on reading level and interest).

I do think that your daughter could benefit from the oral discussion and story element lessons in "Drawn into the Heart...", as long as you don't let her get bogged down in reading too much each day or in doing too much writing as both Tansy and Lourdes helpfully pointed out.

I was thinking that you were doing "Bigger..." with your daughter also, but I can't remember for sure (so forgive me if I'm wrong)! But, if you are doing "Bigger.." and you are still really working hard on phonics daily, you could also wait one more year to start DITHR if you wanted.

This is because "Bigger.." does cover literature study in the Storytime Box of the plans with the read-alouds. So, you could wait one more year for the more complete literature study in DITHR in order to give you time to complete the phonics instruction, if you prefer.

I know it can be frightening to move into more formal literature study, but it does really help kiddos dig more deeply into what they're reading and become more connected to the story. It seems less forbidding to ease into it in the elementary years, rather than waiting until middle school or high school and going head-over-heels with literature study all at once!

Blessings,
Carrie

lil' ladies · Post by **lil' ladies** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:32 am

Thanks for all the great advice.

Yes, we are doing Bigger....It was our first day today

!

I spent some time with dd9 going over some of the level 2 readers, and they are mostly all too difficult. But since her little sister (6) is doing the emerging reader set, and she has already read them all, I don't want her doing those.

Today I pulled out all the readers we own and sorted though them. She is fluent in reading books like The Beginners Bible, but struggles greatly with Amelia Earhart. I want to really work on improving her fluency but also her confidence as a reader. I found quite a lot of readers that are not too difficult for her, so we will do those along with a thorough phonics program and the other language arts components of bigger.

I am really praying that a year of this will be enough to help her along with her reading. She is becoming aware that she cannot read as well as other children (especially little sis) and I know it's making her feel inferior. I had a nice long talk with her today about it and told her that everyone has things they are naturally good at and other things they have to work hard at, and that reading must just be something she needs to work hard at.

Anyway, sorry for the long post. Thanks again.

Annie

Post by **Carrie** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:30 am

Annie,

It sounds like you are on the right track! You sound like such a wonderfully caring mom. You're kiddos are blessed to have you as their mom!

As children get older, their areas of weakness do stand out more (and kiddos do compare themselves to younger/older sibilings and see their areas of weakness). The talk you had with your older dd, is one we've had with my oldest too, although his area of weakness had been math.

We always explain that God has gifted each of us differently so that together we can accomplish what He has set out for us to do. If we were all good at everything, how would we know what special gifts God has given us (if they didn't stand out against our weaknesses?)

Blessings,
Carrie

inHistiming · Post by **inHistiming** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:52 am

I just want to encourage you in your efforts to help your daughter learn to read better. We have struggled with my daughter in the past...and she had a very low opinion of herself in that area, believing she could not EVER do it. After using Beyond...for a year along with Reading Made Easy, she is reading the books on the emerging reader's schedule and loving it. It's been so wonderful watching her blossom, and it makes me tear up to think about the changes that have occurred in her.

You sound as if you're doing a great job finding books that will work for her. I can't wait to hear how she progresses, and hear your joy in watching her succeed. God will reveal all of her strengths and weaknesses, and He will help you both to persevere on the hard days. I'm sending a heart-felt prayer up for you both right now!