AnointedHsMom Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 So I am a huge fan of AAR but this last year I've not been able to get as many lessons done with my son and he's "behind" a tad bit. We are just 4 short days from finishing AAR 1 and my son already reads way beyond that level. I was going to go ahead and buy AAR 2 but somehow I got onto LOE's website yesterday and I've got to say I'm completely intrigued with it for a few reasons. 1) I can complete LOE much quicker than I can finish the next 3 levels of AAR. My son has JUST turned 9 and has no learning disabilities. I just need to get a ful phonics program done with him and I want a primarily OG based program. 2) I've not found grammar that I'm fond of yet. LOE includes it along with vocabulary and composition. 3) Overall the cost would be much less to do LOE instead of AAR. More money up front but around $250 cheaper than doing all 4 levels of AAR and AAS. For those of you that have used AAR/AAS (we would start AAS as soon as we finish AAR 1) and LOE can you compare where the major differences are and what I would need to consider with a switch? Also please share how long your lessons take with LOE. I would be using a 16 week schedule as a frame work and of course taking longer on a lesson if needed. My son will technically be in 4th grade next year and it would be wonderful to be able to start him out at his right reading and spelling level hence the consideration to go to LOE vs. AAR. I was also going to use EIW with my son for writing but I'm wondering now if I would even need it with LOE's composition portions. Overall it seems that all my language arts would be covered for around a year in the price of LOE. Give me your thoughts and experiences please wonderful ladies (and a few gentlemen). Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kirstenhill Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I used Logic of English Essentials to help my daughter with spelling. We started when she was 8 (almost 9). It took us a little over a year to go through the program, and we did one lesson per week. Her reading was already excellent, but she needed a ton of help with spelling. I am not super familiar with AAR (I've read more about AAS), so it is hard for me to compare it if your primary goal is reading instruction. When we first started LoE, we were spending about 30 minutes each day that we did spelling, but as I recall we were doing maybe 3 days per week of spelling work together. Maybe 4? But definitely not five days a week. The composition part of Essentials is really pretty small, and we only did grammar with maybe a quarter of the lessons before I decided to do other things for grammar. Since our main concern was spelling, we essentially took her third grade year "off" from significant writing (composition) to focus on spelling. I have written a number of posts about Logic of English on my blog, which might help you get a better feel for it: http://homeschooldiscoveries.com/tag/logic-of-english/(skip past the first post about Foundations, which is a program for younger kids). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellie Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Or you could do Spalding for a one-time purchase of less than $50. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Or the things on my well trained phonics child for the cost of printing! http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Reading/WellTaughtPhonicsStudent.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 Does he need help with reading? If not, AAS is also a complete phonics program. If he does, I'd check the placement tests rather than take him through every level of AAR, unless he needs it. AAS is a building block program, so you do need to start with 1 and work up, but in AAR you can place him according to his reading level. Just an option, hope you figure out which one will work best for your son! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnointedHsMom Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 Merry I know he could probably read level 2 words but I'm scared to jump him to 3. I feel like there are so many more skills learned than just learning to read the words with each level. We are doing a lesson a day and in reality right now we are doing 2 because he learns a phonogram then next lesson reads the story in the reader. He can handle doing 2 lessons that way. We continue to do all review of course. His reading is still a bit choppy but the readers help a great deal with that. I don't know why. I guess it's been because I let him read it to himself first and then I will read it after he does. He usually reads it again with more feeling. My brain can't come up with the right words to describe what I mean. I hope that makes sense. As much as I would like to get it done more quickly I can't seem to get peace about leaving AAR. It works AND my son has loved it. Why mess with something that ain't broke LOL. Does he need help with reading? If not, AAS is also a complete phonics program. If he does, I'd check the placement tests rather than take him through every level of AAR, unless he needs it. AAS is a building block program, so you do need to start with 1 and work up, but in AAR you can place him according to his reading level. Just an option, hope you figure out which one will work best for your son! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Merry I know he could probably read level 2 words but I'm scared to jump him to 3. I feel like there are so many more skills learned than just learning to read the words with each level. We are doing a lesson a day and in reality right now we are doing 2 because he learns a phonogram then next lesson reads the story in the reader. He can handle doing 2 lessons that way. We continue to do all review of course. His reading is still a bit choppy but the readers help a great deal with that. I don't know why. I guess it's been because I let him read it to himself first and then I will read it after he does. He usually reads it again with more feeling. My brain can't come up with the right words to describe what I mean. I hope that makes sense. As much as I would like to get it done more quickly I can't seem to get peace about leaving AAR. It works AND my son has loved it. Why mess with something that ain't broke LOL. Gotcha, it does sound like you have him at the right level then, at least for the fluency practice. I know what you mean--I don't like to change what's working either! Especially when my kids enjoy it. You mentioned not getting as many lessons done as you would have liked--maybe what needs to change is how you approach your day, so that the lessons can be more consistent and then you'll get through at the pace you are hoping for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnointedHsMom Posted April 28, 2015 Author Share Posted April 28, 2015 You mentioned not getting as many lessons done as you would have liked--maybe what needs to change is how you approach your day, so that the lessons can be more consistent and then you'll get through at the pace you are hoping for? Yes! We've had a hard year and we got in a serious rut and now I'm paying for it. But just last week I changed things up and it went very well. We are both night owls and well, that just doesn't work for us anymore. We've been running around all :willy_nilly: . No more though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MerryAtHope Posted April 28, 2015 Share Posted April 28, 2015 Yes! We've had a hard year and we got in a serious rut and now I'm paying for it. But just last week I changed things up and it went very well. We are both night owls and well, that just doesn't work for us anymore. We've been running around all :willy_nilly: . No more though. BTDT! Sorry you've had a hard year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.