Beginning DITHOR for High School

I was looking for a literature study for my 9th grader.  To my surprise, I already had everything I needed.  Jasmine hasn't done a lot of literature study, especially in a homeschool setting.  I was reading the Heart of Dakota message board.  On it is a list of ways to beef up their current programs to make them high school credit worthy.  Since I plan to do this from this year on, I was reading through the selections and choices.  When I read I could use DITHOR (Drawn Into the Heart of Reading) to make it worthy of a literature credit, I knew this would be perfect for Jasmine.

The key to beefing up DITHOR is to choose books that are at the high school level.  I have so many that I want Jasmine to read, but I decided to start with one that I knew would grab her attention.  It is entitled We Had Everything But Money.  I bought this book used a few weeks ago.  It is wonderful!  It is full of personal stories and photos from The Great Depression.  While the reading level isn't exactly tough, I knew this was just the book to spark her interest.

Sure enough, we are only three days into the reading, and Jasmine is loving it!  She is reading the book, and talking non-stop about all the stories she is coming across.  The lessons from DITHOR aren't overly difficult.  So far, they just add depth to what she is reading.

For grades beyond 9th, I will be eagerly looking to see what options Heart of Dakota will provide as they release their new guides.  They already have amazing selections in reading.  Jasmine has never been a "reader".  She would rather watch television or listen to music.  Homeschooling has stretched her in her reading so far.  While the reading levels aren't overly advanced, I am considering warming Jasmine up with the Level 7/8 Girl Book Pack.  We will be starting Heart of Dakota, beefed up for the high school level, in August. 

Beefing up the programs slightly, adding high school level grammar, math, and electives, is my plan for Jasmine.  She left public school with an IEP and years of LD classes and a tutor.  She was labeled.  She felt inferior and not intelligent.  She had been tested and tested, always seeming to be lacking. 

After teaching her for a semester with a traditional program, and watching how she learns, I have learned quite a bit.  While I am no expert, I have noticed many things.  First, Jasmine does much better in a quiet environment that isn't stress-filled.  She loves hands-on.  If the topic catches her interest, she will hyper-focus.  She will research and read and learn.  She does better if her subjects are short, not hours long.  She is gaining incredible skill in reading.  She is also getting quite independent in her studies.  When she first came home, she needed to be guided every step.  Now, she only needs supervision and help occasionally.  She comes to me to work through the Teacher directed parts of DITHOR.

I see her excelling in homeschool, even though she still occasionally has rough days, and I thank God that He allowed my husband and I to homeschool this precious child.  She is gaining a quality education, and it is thrilling to watch.