HI. I have not yet ordered HOD because I am researching everything first..If someone could please help I would appreciate it:)
Do you need to order either the basic or deluxe readers as well as the DITHR? It seems like I could order either, but not need both??? Help with that please?
Oh and we are planning to order Preparing Hearts. I have a just turned 8 and just turned 10 yr. old(3rd and 5th grades next year) But plan on starting this summer.
WE have so many books at home, could I just use those for DITHR and then order the teachers guide and student text only..Would I need anything else w/ DITHR?
Thanks so much, Wendy and my 3 boys:)
Questions about DITHOR
Re: Questions about DITHOR
Let me see if I can help. I hope I'm understanding your questions. The basic readers are books that you will read aloud to your dd for the Storytime box of the plans. They add to the history that is being studied. The deluxe readers/books are for the Independent History box that the dc do independently. These books the dc read by themselves and do notebook pages by themselves based on these books. They also enhance the history study. So you would need both of these to do the program fully.
DITHR is for reading instruction and you will find it scheduled in the Language Arts box. You can use DITHR as your reading program or some other reading program. I do recommend DITHR. It's a great program. For it you would need the DITHR teacher manual and the student book at the correct level for each of your dc. I also recommend that you get the book projects and the sample book list. The book projects give you an extra option for a final project for each genre. The sample book list is great at helping you figure out what books to use in DITHR if you want to choose your own books instead of using one of the book packs that is already put together for you. You can purchase the book packs that have books at the correct levels and genres ready for you. You could also use your own books that you already have or get books from the library. The book list is helpful in selecting the correct level of book and genre. In Preparing DITHR is only scheduled 3 days per week, so you will only cover 5 of the genres during the year.
I hope that is helpful and answers your questions. Welcome!
DITHR is for reading instruction and you will find it scheduled in the Language Arts box. You can use DITHR as your reading program or some other reading program. I do recommend DITHR. It's a great program. For it you would need the DITHR teacher manual and the student book at the correct level for each of your dc. I also recommend that you get the book projects and the sample book list. The book projects give you an extra option for a final project for each genre. The sample book list is great at helping you figure out what books to use in DITHR if you want to choose your own books instead of using one of the book packs that is already put together for you. You can purchase the book packs that have books at the correct levels and genres ready for you. You could also use your own books that you already have or get books from the library. The book list is helpful in selecting the correct level of book and genre. In Preparing DITHR is only scheduled 3 days per week, so you will only cover 5 of the genres during the year.
I hope that is helpful and answers your questions. Welcome!

Patty in NC
b/g twins '02 Rev2Rev 2014/15
previously enjoyed LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, RTR
******
Nisi Dominus Frusta (Without God, frustration)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1
b/g twins '02 Rev2Rev 2014/15
previously enjoyed LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, RTR
******
Nisi Dominus Frusta (Without God, frustration)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1
Re: Questions about DITHOR
Thankyou Patti..Yes, very helpful. I had no idea you were supposed to purchase both the basic AND deluxe pkgs. Wow, HOD turns out to be expensive.
We are going to do Preparing Hearts and we have read most of the books in the deluxe pkg. already. Not sure what to do. WE have always done Sonlight and I think they use alot of the books HOD does but at an earluer age. hmmm..Decisions. thanks again, Wendy
We are going to do Preparing Hearts and we have read most of the books in the deluxe pkg. already. Not sure what to do. WE have always done Sonlight and I think they use alot of the books HOD does but at an earluer age. hmmm..Decisions. thanks again, Wendy
Re: Questions about DITHOR
We're not purchasing the Deluxe packages. I'm doing a lot of supplementing with our library, because we're on a pretty tight budget.
Dd 9 - Bigger Hearts.
Dd 5 - Kindergarten with various things.
Happily married to a graduated homeschooler who is intelligent and socialized.
Dd 5 - Kindergarten with various things.
Happily married to a graduated homeschooler who is intelligent and socialized.

Re: Questions about DITHOR
The deluxe package is optional, but it is very nice. Here is what it says on the website:wensuetay wrote:Thankyou Patti..Yes, very helpful. I had no idea you were supposed to purchase both the basic AND deluxe pkgs. Wow, HOD turns out to be expensive.
We are going to do Preparing Hearts and we have read most of the books in the deluxe pkg. already. Not sure what to do. WE have always done Sonlight and I think they use alot of the books HOD does but at an earluer age. hmmm..Decisions. thanks again, Wendy
It is scheduled in the main part of the guide and has wonderful notebooking activities to go with it. Since you have already read most of these books, you could skip this or hopefully you still have the books so you could allow your children to go through them independently as scheduled in the guide. Did they read them independently before? The activities/notebook pages that go with the books will likely be different than what they did before. You could opt for the extension package if your dc have read the deluxe package already and are advanced readers, this could be an option for you. If you don't own these books though, can't get them through the library, and are on a tight budget, you could skip that box. It really looks like great fun though and I think the independence that dc get in doing that box will make it worthwhile. I think I'm going to do that box myself over the summer. It just looks like too much fun to miss!Adding this package to the Economy Package provides daily independent reading assignments for your 3rd and 4th grade students in the area of history. Books correspond with the time period to enhance your child's study of history. The reading material is meant to be easy and short enough for the students to complete on their own. If you have a very advanced reader, you may want to use the Extension Package instead.

As far as cost, I know it can be overwhelming. There are a lot of books in Preparing so at the outset that can seem expensive. The thing with HOD though is that you have all the resources that you need at your fingertips. There is no running to the library trying to get all of the supplemental material you need. I know other programs sometimes look less expensive on the surface, but often there are many more resources that you need that aren't included upfront. There is always the option of getting some of your books from the library, like Daph mentioned, when you are on a budget. We have gotten quite a few of the books for my dc to read for DITHR from the library this year. The only problem for me with that is that I have to plan, reserve the books, pick them up, and then make sure to return them on time. I don't always do a great job with that though


Patty in NC
b/g twins '02 Rev2Rev 2014/15
previously enjoyed LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, RTR
******
Nisi Dominus Frusta (Without God, frustration)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1
b/g twins '02 Rev2Rev 2014/15
previously enjoyed LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, RTR
******
Nisi Dominus Frusta (Without God, frustration)
Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Psalm 127:1
Re: Questions about DITHOR
It is difficult to get it done, isn't it? lol My problem is returning them on time.pjdobro wrote:The only problem for me with that is that I have to plan, reserve the books, pick them up, and then make sure to return them on time. I don't always do a great job with that thoughso it's helpful for me to have all of my resources in hand.

Dd 9 - Bigger Hearts.
Dd 5 - Kindergarten with various things.
Happily married to a graduated homeschooler who is intelligent and socialized.
Dd 5 - Kindergarten with various things.
Happily married to a graduated homeschooler who is intelligent and socialized.
