DITHOR Question - Stone Fox SPOILER alert!

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krazzymommy
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:37 pm

DITHOR Question - Stone Fox SPOILER alert!

Post by krazzymommy » Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:35 pm

My ds (7) is doing DITHOR, level 2. Here's my dilemma - he is reading very well, but I don't think his comprehension is good, especially when things are inferred. My question is, is this something that will come as he reads? Or does he need to be reading simpler material? For example, we just finished Stone Fox. I have him read a page or two out loud, and then we read it silently together, so I know exactly what he just read and can ask him questions. If I ask him to narrate it, he will give me the very basic, straightforward details - little Willy saw Grandpa in the window, Grandpa was playing his harmonica. But, when I asked him who hit Little Willy? he didn't get that. I was sure it said straightforward that Stone Fox did, but as I re-read it, it was a little vague. At the end, he totally didn't even get that Searchlight died and why. (That part was clear, I thought.) A lot of the inferences throughout the book, he just did not get and I guess a lot of details that were given he didn't get, either.

I have to run out the door or I would clarify a bit more. I'm just wondering if this is normal? His actual, phonetic reading is fine. When I give him the worksheets, he is fine with the writing, as long as we've clarified any points that the page is asking.

Thoughts?
~Monica
DD8 - Bigger
DS10 - CtC

We've enjoyed: Little Hands to Heaven, Little Hearts for His Glory, Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory, and Bigger Hearts for His Glory - took a break from HOD for awhile; excited to get back into it!

krazzymommy
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:37 pm

Re: DITHOR Question - Stone Fox SPOILER alert!

Post by krazzymommy » Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:06 pm

Is this a stupid question? I feel like I always ask the dumb questions. :cry:

Let me ask another way - if the reading and writing skills are there, but the comprehension is not, are you supposed to press on and wait for comprehension to come, or should we be reading easier books. He enjoys the books, btw, he just isn't getting everything out of them that he should be.
~Monica
DD8 - Bigger
DS10 - CtC

We've enjoyed: Little Hands to Heaven, Little Hearts for His Glory, Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory, and Bigger Hearts for His Glory - took a break from HOD for awhile; excited to get back into it!

pjdobro
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Re: DITHOR Question - Stone Fox SPOILER alert!

Post by pjdobro » Thu Sep 13, 2012 10:20 pm

It's not at all a stupid question, but it's one that I don't feel qualified to answer. :oops: I think some children are more literal and don't get inference as easily as others. It's a skill that takes time. I know that it is something that will continue to be worked on throughout DITHOR. I'm not for sure what would be best for you as far as choosing books. In general I think the idea is to choose books that are at or slightly below the child's reading level so they can work on the deeper thinking skills that DITHOR encourages. Do you feel that these books are pushing him as far as reading level or is he pretty comfortable with them? I'm thinking if they are pretty much on target, you may just have to continue to lead him into deeper thinking about the books by asking leading questions perhaps pointing out inferences that he doesn't get. Eventually I think the comprehension and deeper thinking will come, but like I said at the first, I don't really feel qualified to answer this question. LOL! :lol: (I'm laughing at myself for trying to answer even though I don't feel qualified. I think that is the engineer in me coming out :wink: )
Last edited by pjdobro on Fri Sep 14, 2012 9:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
Patty in NC

b/g twins '02 Rev2Rev 2014/15
previously enjoyed LHFHG, BLHFHG, Bigger, Preparing, CTC, RTR
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LynnH
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Re: DITHOR Question - Stone Fox SPOILER alert!

Post by LynnH » Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:57 am

I am pretty sure my teacher friends have told me that inference is more a 3rd/ 4th grade skill. I know my ds still struggles with it sometimes and he is 13. When he was in public school in 4th grade they were just starting to work on it. Stone Fox is a 3rd grade reading level book so it may be that he can read the words fine, but some of the meaning is lost on him. Which is probably normal for his age. You might try a slightly lower level book for your next genre and see if he does any better, but I really wouldn't worry about it at this point since he is so young.
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
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agstefko
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Re: DITHOR Question - Stone Fox SPOILER alert!

Post by agstefko » Sat Sep 15, 2012 5:08 pm

My ds is the same age/reading level and we have the same issue :) Just so you know you're not alone :)
Amy married 12 great years to Tony and mom to
Noah 10, Kayla 8 BHFHG, Brie TRL, SM, Tony Jr 3, Nicholas 9 months

krazzymommy
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat Sep 11, 2010 1:37 pm

Re: DITHOR Question - Stone Fox SPOILER alert!

Post by krazzymommy » Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:45 am

agstefko wrote:My ds is the same age/reading level and we have the same issue :) Just so you know you're not alone :)
Yay! (That I'm not alone :D )

Thank you to the ladies who have responded, I think we will plug on with Carrie's suggestions and see how he does over the next few books.
~Monica
DD8 - Bigger
DS10 - CtC

We've enjoyed: Little Hands to Heaven, Little Hearts for His Glory, Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory, and Bigger Hearts for His Glory - took a break from HOD for awhile; excited to get back into it!

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