Please confirm which level of AAR?

[Winnie in Canada]

Rising 3rd grader (8 in October) needs to become a more fluent reader.  Since K, been trying to teach him to read using the same program as his 4 older siblings (Phonics Pathways and SWR) but it was only after we tried AAS1 and AAS2 last year that it finally clicked. He finally"graduated" from easy readers to beginning chapter books and was reading with more ease. He's even read a few of the older Sonlight Core 2 readers we already own (Question of Yams, Secret Valley, Viking Adventure, The Littles, Last Little Cat...). Didn't really check his comprehension as I never did with the older ones.

 

It seems reading is not natural to him though as it was with his siblings. I was hoping we could go back to using SWR this school year...and perhaps work on fluency by making him read aloud to me (something we have not been able to do regularly in the past...but I read TO him quite regularly and he narrates well and can even take simple dictation).

 

However as we're trying to begin school slowly this past week, he's been having frustration going on with the Sonlight reader he picked randomly (Ralph S. Mouse). He asks me what something means every few phrases or when I make him read something aloud, he's not reading some words correctly (e.g. "dozen" for "dozed"). I think we need to do a reading program because he won't just learn naturally by reading more (for one, I have to remind him constantly to read...never did with the older 4 and we have tons of books at home).  

 

It seems the explicit way in which AAS teaches worked for him. He likes to know what rule to use in reading or spelling a word. Perhaps the tiles worked better also than just simple spelling lists (of unassociated words) in SWR....also the built-in review. So, I'm thinking AAR. But what level to begin with after having completed AAS2?  Looking over the placement test, it looks like he would go into AAR3? 

[mamamoose]

What other level would you consider? It seems natural you would just move forward with level 3...I would also consider a literature program of some kind--are you sonlighters? That's probably enough but maybe look at books a grade behind, so that literature is enjoyable. I have a dyslexic and we are using the Memoria Press literature program for the grade level behind where he is and it's working well. I use He lit guides as a guide for our discussions and he doesn't answer the questions manually.

[Vintage81]

If you haven't already, you may want to consider having him read through the sample stories in each level. I found that to be more helpful than the placement tests. Here's a link:

 

http://www.allaboutlearningpress.com/reading-resource-center

[Winnie in Canada]

Thanks for the replies.  I'm just not very familiar with All About Reading and how it relates to All About Spelling (although I read some articles on the site why they use a separate reading and spelling program and it makes sense) so I wasn't sure.  I didn't want to start him on a level that would frustrate.  But also didn't want to make a costly mistake.  He did breeze through AAS1 and then when we got to AAS2, it seemed more the right fit.

 

Yes, we are Sonlighters.  I just don't own lower levels before Core 2.  All my older kids just jumped into that core after finishing Phonics Pathways and a year or two of easy readers/beginning chapter books from the library. After PP,  the 3 older girls used Spelling Workout all the way while the other boy used SWR. Failed to mention that youngest also completed Spelling Workout A and B while doing AAS2 last year. Tried the first few lessons of Spelling Workout C now and he's finding the proofreading portion a bit challenging. But maybe it's just because we just began school and he's adjusting back. 

 

We also use TOG. Two oldest (girls) who are now in university did at least 2 years of rhetoric level history and lit and had AP English credited. Currently doing TOGY2 with 2 more (rhetoric and dialectic) but the LG books for the youngest aren't exactly readers even if they're nice picture books. Youngest tried "Marguerite Makes a Book" yesterday and that didn't go well either. I've read this book to him before and he actually knows what it's about. Will take that advice and find readers a grade behind. Although the Memoria Press program sounds interesting, I'd have to just try and gather readers that are appropriate. I was hoping AAR would take care of that. It seems I don't own too many books for the level he needs. I should make use of the library more.

 

I think he may be slightly dyslexic (had difficulty with rhyme and syllabicating until we used AAS last year) or maybe just a struggling reader. He is very good in math and quite the artist. I just never had the same experience with any of the older kids so am at a loss and a bit worried. And also concerned I have also have a lot on my plate considering third child (his brother) is also beginning high school.

 

Thank you so much for that link of sample stories. That will really be helpful. I will make him go through those today.  

 

Any other advice from those who have a similar experience will be appreciated. Thanks again.

[MerryAtHope]

I agree that I'd have him read the sample stories to confirm that he's ready for 3. You really want to look for fluent reading and whether he has good comprehension etc... with them. Evaluate things like:

 

Your student’s ability to decode the words in the story.

Your student’s ability to comprehend the story.

Could your student fluently read the story with expression?

Did your student understand the words from a vocabulary standpoint?

 

Another way to confirm is to check some of the "challenge" words from AAR 2 and see how he does with those. AAR 2 includes two and three syllable words such as pullover, outnumber, sandpaper, saucepan, anything, because, blockbuster, buttermilk, caretaker, chipmunk, cornflower, different, globetrotter, forefinger, fanfare, grindstone, homespun, jackrabbit, killdeer, keepsake, milkweed, prepare, ringmaster, riverside, seventeen, porthole, simmered, silverware, stepladder, wildflowers, wintergreen, and invoice.

 

The AAR and AAS levels don't line up exactly (4 levels for reading, 7 for spelling) because reading tends to be easier to learn for most kids. This post on why they are taught separately explains more. 

 

HTH as you decide how to place your son! At not yet 8, he would be a 2nd grader in most states. I've heard of a few states that have later cut-offs, but most would have the age cut-off before October--so he's very young for 3rd grade. To be ready for AAR 3 at his age (or even if he needs some review in AAR 2) doesn't sound like a big reading struggle--it may just be that your other two caught on very easily. He could be 2E though (twice exceptional) and may be able to mask some struggles with giftedness.

 

Since you mentioned you are questioning dyslexia, you may want to check out the Dyslexia Resources page. Again, HTH!

 

[BusyMom5]

I would have him re-read the AAR2 readers aloud to you, and take note of any places he really starts to stumble.  If he makes it through them well, then I'd buy AAR3.  He may have forgotten a lot since the last lesson, or it may take him longer for the rules to stick.  Or he may just not pay attention to the individual letters in a word ;)

[Winnie in Canada]

Thank you also MerryAtHope and BusyMom5 for your replies.  He woke up with a bad sore throat yesterday so I wasn't able to try the sample stories but I will take note of those things to watch out for and also make him try the different levels. He had some introduction to compound words in AAS2 but those challenge words in AAR2 don't seem like words he'd be able to read automatically. I will make him try if he's feeling better today.

 

Yes, I've read that dyslexia page before and looked at it again.  He did have quite a few of those characteristics in the "reading" section (choppy reading, fatigue, skips letters in a word, skips small words, substitutes a different word, loses where he is in a page, can read a word on one page and then seem like he saw the word for the first time in the next), but after AAS2, he improved a lot.  He doesn't have the handwriting symptoms though maybe except for switching letters (e.g. "hte" for "the" or not knowing if it's "hs" or "sh").  He writes well though (both manuscript and cursive...taught him using Cursive First) and can do copywork well (we're working on WWE2).  I haven't caught much of the spelling problems because he's very cautious about spelling and wants to learn the rules before he tries.  He does have difficulty memorising the months even if we've used Saxon Math through Saxon 3 now (and he did the calendar in K).

 

Hoping to finalise what to order this week so we can begin. It looks like both AAR2 and AAR3 has over 50 lessons so I guess each level will last a school year?

[MerryAtHope]

 

Hoping to finalise what to order this week so we can begin. It looks like both AAR2 and AAR3 has over 50 lessons so I guess each level will last a school year?

 

They can, though there are always kids who work faster or slower. AAR recommends working for about 20 minutes per day on reading. Do some review each day by rotating through the word cards for 2-3 minutes & then pick up in the book wherever you left off previously. Most students will spend a few days to a week (and sometimes more) on instructional lessons, and 1-3 days on lessons where they read in the reader. So, you can work at your student’s pace and spend as many or as few days as he needs on each lesson.

 

You might like this blog article that shows an example of what a typical day might look like.