How do you juggle 2 students with DITHOR?

[John'smom]

I'm just trying to wrap my mind on how to do DITHOR with 2 students. I'm thinking some things you'd want to do together so you're not repeating it twice and that should save time, but maybe I'm wrong. Do you just have to separate times altogether? I'm trying to decide whether I'll have 2 in level 2/3 or one in 4/5 and one in 2/3. All the same, I'd love to hear what your day is like with DITHOR with 2 or more students.

[Mom4Him]

Hi Edwena! I wish I had answers for you, but just wanted to say that I was wondering the same thing! I seem to remember reading somewhere that you can use it together with kids of different ages, but I'm wondering how it all works out as in the younger guides DITHOR is scheduled daily and starting in Preparing- is only scheduled 3 times a unit (if I'm remembering correctly).

[girlboygirlboy]

I have 2 doing Bigger & Dithor this year. It's seriously their favorite part of the day. I love it too b/c it's so nice to have some 1/1 time with them and enjoy books together. There are some days where they do things altogether, usually when introducing a new book or genre or during the end of genre project, but most days it's teacher driven(at least in the 2/3 level that I'm in now). It doesn't seem to take that much time, I'd say 15-20 minutes tops with each to have them read aloud to me and answer any questions that are in the teacher manual or complete a page in the workbook. Most of the time, I will have one working on their cursive while the other reads to me and then switch(if anyone finishes early, they usually want to hear what the other is reading). I choose separate books for them based on their interests(girlish book for my girl and boyish book for my boy). Basically, I go through the sample book list and request anything that is available through our library. Then, depending on what comes in, I just flip through to see which would work best for which and fill out the schedule.

Haven't had them in separate guides yet, so I can't answer that. Sorry!

Hope that helps!

[Tree House Academy]

I have two doing DITHR, but one is very independent with his DITHR (level 6/7/8) and one needs a LOT of hand holding yet in level 2/3 (and reads aloud to me his DITHR book pages). It is pretty easy with my two because of their age differences and the level of independence for my older son. I have no advice for doing others together.

[John'smom]

Anyone else want to share?

[my3sons]

Both Riley and Wyatt are doing DITHOR now. Riley is doing 2/3, and Wyatt is doing 4/5. We also finished out last year this way, as Riley was ready to begin 2/3. We've done it a few different ways. First, we did it pretty much all together (meaning within the same chunk of time but still following the guide's plans for independent/all together lessons), and I found my oldest was answering all of the questions, and my youngest was very happy to let him. Soooo, this year we have went to doing the Kickoffs, the Prereading Activities, and the Final Projects together. (These are labeled "All Together" days in the plans.) We do the Godly Character days separately (though they are often "All Together" days) because my middle ds's tender little heart opens up more to me alone. The days that are scheduled out 2/3, 4/5, 6/7/8 plans we do separately, as my middle ds is still reading more of it to me, and my older ds is reading most of his independently. Also, my middle ds needs more time to do his Student Book, and my oldest does his very quickly (he probably could have done 6/7/8 this year, but I wanted to wait another year). Because my middle ds was wanting to finish at the same time as my oldest ds, I separated them on those days so he would not rush. We are loving this plan this year! Our days together are a blast, and our days separate help me meet each of their different needs right now well. So, I guess I'd start out trying it the way you are most leaning toward feeling will fit your sweeties best, and then see how it goes, knowing you can always change what is done together and what is done separately as needs arise. DITHOR is such an awesome way to teach reading - I think you will have fun doing it with 2 of your dc - HTH!

In Christ,
Julie

[John'smom]

When you have two in DITHOR and having them separate, I'm sure it would extend your day. I thought about having ds stay in level 2/3, and then dd would be in level 2/3 as well. Should I expect to be doing DITHOR for 40 min to 1 hr/day then? 20-30 min with each of them? I'm just trying to wrap my mind around all this.

[Carrie]

Edwena,

We've had two students in DITHR for quite a few years. First it was my two older students, and now it has been my two middle students. I've always had them in separate levels, and it works very well. It actually won't add much time to your day to have two levels going. So, I'd focus more on where your students should be placed level-wise in DITHR and place them there (rather than worrying about it being too difficult to do more than one level). If your older son firmly places in Level 4/5, meaning he is ready for the level of independence, writing, and discussion in Level 4/5, then I would place him there. If he balks at written work, or is not ready for more independence, or has not been through Level 2/3, then I'd instead place him in Level 2/3.

When I schedule DITHR, I just make sure to keep the time slot for DITHR the same in all of my boys schedule so that they are available at the same time for any lessons that are meant to happen together. On the days when they are separate, typically the 4/5 child reads or does part of his lesson on his own while I am working on the lesson with my Level 2/3 student. Then, by the time the 4/5 student needs me, I am close to wrapping up with the 2/3 student and can just pop over to work with the 4/5 student. The DITHR Teacher's Guide plans it to work this way, so not everyone needs you at once. The 4/5 students are much more independent than the 2/3 students, making it very workable.

We also make sure to stay on the same day of the genre as a family, so that we can always come together for the "All Levels Together" days and for the projects at the end (if the boys choose to do their project together).

I typically schedule 25 min. for Level 2/3 (including the reading), and 30-35 min. for Level 4/5 (including the reading). We keep our readings short though! These times overlap, meaning I allot 35-40 min. in my schedule in all for DITHR three times a week (in the upper guides) and daily in the lower guides.

Blessings,
Carrie