bbcooker Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I love All About Spelling!! I love everything about it. It works for us. But I need an independent curriculum next year - something I can assign, and the dc completes it without me, and I check that they have done it. Do you have suggestions? Does it exist? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenaj Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 R&S Spelling is independent except on the days that you give the spelling tests. When I was using it, I tried to stagger the kid's lessons so that not everyone needed a test on the same day. Sequential Spelling can also be independent if you use the DVD's. Phonetic Zoo from IEW is also independent if you buy the CD's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy M Posted June 25, 2014 Share Posted June 25, 2014 I'm in the same position. After we do AAS level 4, I need to move to more independent. I wanted something explicit on the rules, like AAS. Which would be both independent, yet explicit for rules? Is How to Teach Spelling independent? Is R&S as good at explaining the rules as AAS? What about Sequential Sp and phonetic Zoo? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenaj Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I'm in the same position. After we do AAS level 4, I need to move to more independent. I wanted something explicit on the rules, like AAS. Which would be both independent, yet explicit for rules? Is How to Teach Spelling independent? Is R&S as good at explaining the rules as AAS? What about Sequential Sp and phonetic Zoo? Thanks! How To Teach Spelling is NOT independent - at least I've never figured out how to make it independent and I've spent a lot of time looking at it and it's matching workbooks. R&S is probably the one that teaches the most explicit rules and is independent. Sequential Spelling does not teach rules at all - just patterns. Though when I've used it, I tend to add the rules in during the lesson but I'm guessing that with the DVD's that doesn't happen. I've never used the DVD - I've always dictated the words myself so I may be wrong on this point. Phonetic Zoo does have rules but I'm drawing a blank on whether they are on the CD at the beginning of each lesson or if they are only on the cards . . . I haven't used it for several years so hopefully someone else will chime in on that point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 R&S hands down. I have mine copy the rules boxes into a notebook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meadowlark Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I'm wondering if a child finished AAS 4, where would they place in R & S? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threeofakind Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 After my son finished AAS3 I moved him to Phonetic Zoo and he has loved it! He listens to his disc (and they have a chime for the rhyme on there) and it gives the words, then they correct it. With the program he ahs to get the list correct 100% twice. It has helped a lot this year having that independent! Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IfIOnly Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 R&S Spelling is independent except on the days that you give the spelling tests. When I was using it, I tried to stagger the kid's lessons so that not everyone needed a test on the same day. Sequential Spelling can also be independent if you use the DVD's. Phonetic Zoo from IEW is also independent if you buy the CD's. My kids take their spelling tests at Spelling City. I do have to make the lists, but with 5 dc it's worth it! R&S hands down. I have mine copy the rules boxes into a notebook. We make flashcards and my kids quiz each other with them. We switched to R and S. Adorable. Bible filled. Which is iffy for Some. :iagree: OP, I would say PZ or R&S. We adore Rod and Staff here, and my kids' spelling improves with every level! :wub: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terabith Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I know Phonetic Zoo says that if you don't test into the first level of the program, they refer to All About Spelling 1-3, so I am guessing they operate on a similar basis. I know from friends that it teaches the same rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 After AAS 4 we switched to R&S 4 because I sought some independence there as well. Honestly, it does not do nearly the job of teaching the rules as AAZs, but that could be more the teacher involved part. Perhaps if I were more involved in using R&S it would be better, but independence is why we use til :) it has been fine, the words on. Ride 4 are not too challenging after AAS4, but the exercises are so it was definitely the right transition book for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbcooker Posted June 26, 2014 Author Share Posted June 26, 2014 Thanks. I'll be looking into these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wabi Sabi Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 Sequential Spelling on DVD has been fabulous for my son, and 100% independent to boot. His spelling has improved immensely this past year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennay Posted June 26, 2014 Share Posted June 26, 2014 I am contemplating the same switch and considering R & S or Megawords. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonia Posted June 27, 2014 Share Posted June 27, 2014 I honestly don't understand why so many people switch. We're moving into level 7 of AAS and it doesn't take us very long. Maybe 20 minutes 3 times a week, if that long. I would also be cautious of too much independence in the elementary years. If you just do independent work how will you be able to assess that they are internalizing the teaching and not just filling in the blanks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy M Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I honestly don't understand why so many people switch. We're moving into level 7 of AAS and it doesn't take us very long. Maybe 20 minutes 3 times a week, if that long. I would also be cautious of too much independence in the elementary years. If you just do independent work how will you be able to assess that they are internalizing the teaching and not just filling in the blanks? For me, as I look ahead, I begin to feel a little panicked at how to fit everything in for all of my children. The K and 1st years are so teacher-intensive. So that means when my oldest is in 5th grade, I will also have a 3rd grader, 1st grader, and K-er (or 2 K-ers, if I combine them). I feel that much of the K and 1st grade work needs to be done at elbow, including handwriting. If all of my curriculum is teacher-intensive, our school day will never end. So I'm thinking about which subjects can be done more independently by the olders while I work with the youngers, so that no time is wasted. I also want to streamline wherever possible. I will still use AAS for the lower levels. And I'm contemplating continuing with it. But when I'm thinking practically, I just don't see how I could continue with it in addition to my other goals. I'm not willing to switch other subjects over to independent--history, science, and Bible I want to do all together, and plan to be involved. Math needs me for much of it, and I'm not willing to turn that over to be completely independent either. For grammar I will use R&S, which will be somewhat independent I hope, but not completely. Art and music are not independent. Writing is certainly not. So... it comes down to spelling being perhaps the easiest subject to turn into "seatwork" with minimal Mom needed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clear Creek Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 I honestly don't understand why so many people switch. We're moving into level 7 of AAS and it doesn't take us very long. Maybe 20 minutes 3 times a week, if that long. I would also be cautious of too much independence in the elementary years. If you just do independent work how will you be able to assess that they are internalizing the teaching and not just filling in the blanks? You have one child. Multiply what you do with her by three, then you will have an idea of what I do every day. I need an independent spelling program because there is *no* way I could add an additional hour per child per week for a spelling program (so three more hours per week) to what we do. Independent does not mean unsupervised. I can stand over the shoulders of three kids and watch them do their spelling lessons and give correction as soon as I see a lack of understanding. And I know it works because it carries over into their writing, both inside and outside of school time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peplophoros Posted June 28, 2014 Share Posted June 28, 2014 7 kids, with the oldest in 4th grade? Honey, if you're doing spelling at all, I bow down to you (we are also switching from AAS to R&S this year for the reasons you outlined. Here's hoping!). You, my friend, are a rock star. :hurray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted June 29, 2014 Share Posted June 29, 2014 Spelling Plus, k - 6 in one book, have them give each other tests, includes rules. You could also have them all watch throu my phonics lessons, they go through all the rules in my spelling lessons but at a pace slow enough for younger children, the spelling lessons are designed for 4th grade and up. They could also type their words and do them in Spelling City. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bbcooker Posted June 29, 2014 Author Share Posted June 29, 2014 I honestly don't understand why so many people switch. We're moving into level 7 of AAS and it doesn't take us very long. Maybe 20 minutes 3 times a week, if that long. I would also be cautious of too much independence in the elementary years. If you just do independent work how will you be able to assess that they are internalizing the teaching and not just filling in the blanks? I completely see your point. Good question! I love that in 20 minutes I know how a child is doing, what their particular struggles are, they completed their work, and I've completed mine too (no grading left to do at the of the night). During those 20 minutes I can also adjust the lesson on the fly to fit that individual - short cut it for the child who already gets it, and throw in extra review and extra explanation for the child who needs it. AAS also fits my own personality as a teacher. I'm a verbal/auditory teacher naturally. And, AAS is such a good program for knowing and understanding the rules. I also like how it is laid out - amount of review, amount of new, dictation included, how the dictation reviews old material, etc. AAS works great for us!!! Why would I switch?? Because I have opportunities for my older 2 kids to be involved in some extra-curricular classes, about 4 hours a week, not including travel time to and from. My kids would LOVE these extra classes! I'd love to give them this opportunity. So I'm trying to figure out ways to still get their normal school into their week. If I could find a spelling program they could take with them to the classes, and complete independent of me, and I check later, then we might be able to pull off the classes. 7 kids, with the oldest in 4th grade? Honey, if you're doing spelling at all, I bow down to you (we are also switching from AAS to R&S this year for the reasons you outlined. Here's hoping!). You, my friend, are a rock star. :hurray: I school the youngers in the morning. During the morning the olders do work independently, (well, mostly independently - they interrupt me when they need help), while I school the youngers. In the afternoon the youngers have naptime. I do AAS with each of the olders in turn during naptime while the youngers nap or do independent activities. It works for us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happycc Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I am doing Megawords. Really wish it were independent. Not quite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1GirlTwinBoys Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 We use Soaring With Spelling and really like it. The kids love doing it because it's fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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