All About Spelling vs. Spelling Workout

[Megicce]

I have an incoming K5'er who's going nuts with writing everything and using lots of invented spelling. I was planning to wait until 1st grade to start spelling, and was planning on using Spelling Workout, but I think she is forcing my hand here and I'm looking at starting spelling in K instead. (We have been doing K4 with phonics, handwriting, and math.)

 

I'm trying to figure out whether I ought to plan on using All About Spelling, which seems like it might be more appropriate for using with a K'er, or Spelling Workout, which was my initial plan. I really think that AAS would be the better curriculum for her learning style at this point (visual and interactive), but concerned about it matching up with the rest of our plans down the road (not to mention that I don't WANT to have to spend extra hands-on time on spelling...but that is just a little selfish consideration). ;)

 

Some specific questions:

1. Has anyone used Spelling Workout with a K'er? How was that experience? We will be about halfway through OPGTR by the time we start K.

 

2. How much of the repetition in Spelling Workout do you find to be useful repetition as opposed to busy work? At this stage and with her still-kind-of-short attention span, I don't want to load her up with busy work that takes time and bores her.

 

3. I LOVE the way AAS teaches the rules of spelling in such a comprehensive and clear way. Is Spelling Workout as effective at really teaching the rules, or is it more like a "memorize a list of words and then spell them" curriculum? (I have looked inside a few of the workbooks, but have had a hard time getting a feel for the curriculum.)

 

4. How does All About Spelling transition into SWB's recommendations for vocabulary in middle school? I know that Spelling Workout has Latin and Greek roots toward the end of elementary/into sixth grade and really sets the student up for Vocabulary from Classical Roots in 7th and 8th grade. Does AAS have any Latin or Greek content at a similar stage? Or would I need to supplement with the 4/5/6 levels of Vocab from Classical Roots if I'm using AAS, as SWB recommends for those using Spelling Power?

 

ETA: 5. What would you do?

 

Thank you!!!!

[MerryAtHope]

I haven't used SWO, but one thing I like about AAS is that you customize the review. You can easily spend more time on the things needed, and less on the things not needed. Time is only about 15-20 minutes per day, so it's pretty doable. As for roots, yes, Level 7 covers Greek and Latin roots, though it isn't a complete roots program, so you may still want to supplement. AAS has been a great help to my kids. Hope this helps as you decide which way to go. Merry :-)

[Crimson Wife]

If AAS is too parent-intensive, there are workbook based programs that are supposed to be similar like How to Teach Spelling and Apples & Pears.

 

I've looked at SWO a few times, and it struck me as mostly "busywork".

 

My oldest is a "natural" speller, and I did a quick run-through of Spelling Power before moving on to Hexco spelling bee prep products. My 2nd is bright but needs explicit teaching of the rules. He is taking a break after finishing AAS 4 to do some roots work this summer (we HS year-round) but will start up again with AAS 5 in the fall. I plan to take him through Level 7 and then maybe do a quick run-through of the harder levels of Spelling Power after that.

[mom2att]

My oldest is a natural speller. I used Spelling Workout with her from K - 4th? grade. At that point she was several levels ahead and still spelling nearly all of the words correctly, but had no idea what quite a few of them meant. So we switched to vocabulary study instead. SWO covers some spelling "rules," but in my experience, natural spellers don't really need them. Dd just seemed to know them intuitively. She loved the workbook format of SWO and it was a good fit for her.

 

My boys, however, are not natural spellers. All About Spelling has been great for them, because they do need those rules (and lots of practice using them!). My older son has gone through levels 1 - 6, my younger 1 - 4. We are taking a break from AAS this summer, interestingly enough to work through a couple of Spelling Workout books. They could say the rules in their sleep, but were having difficulty applying them, so we're just doing a little interim practice with SWO. It's kind of nice to switch things up a bit.

 

I plan to go back to AAS and continue the series. We do Latin as well, so any root study in spelling is just a bonus.

 

My advice? Get the first SWO book (it's really easy, shouldn't be any problem for a k'er). They don't cost much, are readily available on Amazon, and you don't need the teacher book. If your child likes the workbook format and seems to be thriving with it, keep going. If she hates it, find something else. AAS is a bit more of an investment--I think it's easier to start with the cheapest, moving to something pricier if needed!

[fourisenough]

In my experience (with natural spellers), SWO was a total waste of time (and YET I used it with all three...). I'm now using R&S. I generally prefer secular materials, but it is so very good (explicitly teaches the spelling rules like AAS, but without the use of tiles and cards) that I'm willing to be flexible! I would suggest not bothering with SWO; for kids who are natural spellers, it is unnecessary and for those who have spelling challenges, it isn't enough. AAS would be lovely if you like things with pieces & parts and if you can afford it.

[Tracy]

Yes, I used SWO with my K'er, and it was a complete disaster. It is all busywork and no teaching anything. Not knowing there were other ways to do it, I ended up doing lots of review with her and having her play games at Spelling City. Maybe the higher levels get better, but Level A is really a big waste of time.

 

I am really glad that I found Spell to Write and Read. I am using it for my 5yo now, and the philosophy just makes so much more sense for a child of this age.

[prairiewindmomma]

I think spelling workout is better for older kids....we use it less for spelling and more for vocabulary development with my 11 yo. From what you're sharing, I'd go with AAS, and adapt it as necessary for the both of you. You can easily step into Vocab from Classical Roots in 7th without prior knowledge.