Reading Responsibilities in “Drawn into the Heart of Reading”
I recently did a blog post called “Reading Responsibilities: Who should read, and should it be aloud or silent?”. In response, I had some fellow Heart of Dakota (HOD) moms ask for details about reading responsibilities in Drawn into the Heart of Reading (DITHOR). So, I thought this would be a great blog post to do! Well, the good news is Carrie thought this through carefully when she wrote DITHOR. So, DITHOR’s plans describe responsibilities within daily directions. These reading responsibilities vary according to level. I will share some specific examples of the way DITHOR’s plans show reading responsibilities.
DITHOR Reading Responsibilities
“Have the students read the assigned pages on their own.” To see an example of this direction, look at All levels, Biography – Day 1. So, this means all students should read the pages silently in their head.
“Listen to your students read the assigned pages aloud to you.” To see an example of this direction, look at Level 2/3, Biography – Day 2. So, this means Level 2/3 students should read the pages aloud to you on this day.
“Listen to your students read several pages.” To see an example of this direction, look at Level 4/5, Biography – Day 2. So, this means students should read just a few pages out loud to you. Then, they can read the rest silently in their head.
More DITHOR Reading Responsibilities
“Students … read the assigned pages for day 2 on their own.” To see an example of this direction, look at Level 6/7/8, Biography – Day 2. So, this means students should read all the pages silently in their head independently.
“Listen to your students read part or all of the assigned pages out loud to you. Use the Reading Strategies list and the Qualities of Good Reading list… in the Appendix.” To see an example of this direction, look at Level 2/3, Biography – Day 3. So, this means the parent decides how much should be read aloud (based on how much the child needs to work on this skill).
“Tell the students to read the assigned pages on their own, leaving 3-4 pages to read aloud to you.” To see an example of this direction, look at Level 4/5, Biography – Day 2. Students at the 4/5 level are often reading around 8-15 pages each day, depending on the size of the book. So, this means you can listen to your child read 3-4 pages aloud to you and read the rest silently independently.
Adjust DITHOR reading responsibilities if needed!
These are reading guidelines that are age appropriate. They also provide a balanced way of teaching reading skills, such as read aloud skills, independent reading skills, and reading comprehension skills. However, there are always special considerations that can impact these guidelines.
For example, if a student is receiving speech therapy or has dyslexia, parents should adjust reading responsibilities accordingly. Or, if a young student is advanced and reads aloud very well already, parents can have that student read fewer pages aloud. Or, if an older student struggles with reading in general, the parent will need to help in whatever way is most beneficial.
Many times, if DITHOR reading responsibilities need to be adjusted, they only need to be adjusted for a short time or for a certain stage. Each year that students do DITHOR they grow stronger in their reading skills. The more years DITHOR is done, the more improvements we see in students’ reading skills. I have been amazed at the growth I’ve seen in my own sons’ reading skills through our years in DITHOR! I hope you find the same to be true in your home!
In Christ,
Julie
PS: If you are wondering why it is important to have a balance of reading aloud and reading silently, click here to find out why!
