Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 13 years ago by Tanya.

Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

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May 28, 2012 at 8:10 pm
greenebalts
Participant
I’m interested in learning more about Drawn Into the Heart of Reading for our soon to be 3rd grader. She’s recently developed a voracious love of reading and is stuck in the “Mandie” book series by Lois Leppard. I would like to see her expand her horizons to different genres. I am a self proclaimed biblophile and have no problem finding book lists, however, I’m also intrigued by the DITHOR literary anaylysis, for lack of better wording.

I tried to look back at some of the posts related to HOD. It seems there are some mixed feelings about the program. Is anyone specifically using the Drawn Into the Heart of Reading program? If so, what level? Pros/Cons? It appears as though the Teacher Guide spans the full curriculum of 2nd -8th grade. What is the benefit of the student workbook?

Thanks so much,
Melissa
May 30, 2012 at 2:41 am
greenebalts
Participant
Bump….I may be looking to purchase this if anyone has it available?

Thanks,
melissa
May 30, 2012 at 4:28 am
pjssully
Participant
since no one has responded, i will. But i am not in favor of this curriculum. I have had it and even considered using it at one point. It really is just a series of worksheets and such that the student fills out. After homeschool for 8 years or so and after worrying about having study questions, lit. questions voc. work and such for young students, i have realized that they really don’t need it at a young age. Even my high school doesn’t do a lot of worksheets of such. We do TONS of discussion, lots of written narrations in high school but not worksheets. my younger kids do oral narrations and i do lit. anaylis orally. you can purchase a one time lit anaylisis type of learning guide for teachers and do the same thing-without having to have your daughter spend time writing out answers. I think it takes the joy out of readingif they have to write, analyze etc about books too young.
pam
May 30, 2012 at 10:30 am
Fiveflymom
Participant
We used it a few years ago for a while (we were doing HOD at the time). My dd and I found it frustrating, because some of the questions or activities did not apply to the particular book we were using. From what I remember, I think it seemed like busy work. I allowed my dd to stop using it and just read the books. I think it’s strength (flexible in that you can use it with any books you choose) is also its weakness. HTH!
May 30, 2012 at 11:52 am
Heather
Participant
I am going to chime in and agree with the other posts. I didn’t want to respond because I used it for a VERY short time a couple of years ago, but the reasons we didn’t stick with it are the exact reasons as listed above!
May 30, 2012 at 1:33 pm
binky
Participant
“you can purchase a one time lit anaylisis type of learning guide for teachers and do the same thing-without having to have your daughter spend time writing out answers”
Pam,
Can you tell me what you would recommend for this.thanks!
Binky
May 30, 2012 at 5:29 pm
Tanya
Participant
I don’t have a specific book to recommend, but as a former English teacher I agree with the others and highly recommend avoiding the worksheets as much as possible. They have the potential to kill a love and appreciation for the beauty of the literature itself.
I found that discussions with my students was better because then we were interacting with the author – his/her intents, values, etc. We could discuss why a particular device was effective (or maybe it wasn’t!). Sometimes worksheets force you to try and fit something, when it really isn’t the best example.
To piggyback on Pam’s thoughts: If you do want a book, get it for yourself and not your student. You learn some basic devices and point them out as you come across them (but don’t try and force it). Make sure they are obvious examples so that your child can learn to recognize them.
Just my thoughts.