Well, I've ordered it :) Hopefully it works for us, I am looking forward to it. If it doesn't work we can always do a more formal spelling program later, the kid is only in grade 2!

Oh yay!! I am hoping for something gentle and effective, is it? All the components of AAR/AAS are driving me nuts. Somehow I feel teaching reading/spelling doesn't need to be so complicated. I noticed that many people use PP along with ETC, if I was going to do this for my Ker which level would I start him at? Get ready for the code?

I am seriously going to drive myself nuts if I change my mind any more times but I keep stumbling upon new solutions to my spelling/reading problems :lol: Here's the scenario; I/we are not enjoying AAS to teach DS who is 7 spelling. I am also not enjoying AAR w/ my DS who is 5 (although I'm pretty sure he likes it just fine). I have been looking for a program to replace AAS. I want something rule based, it doesn't have to be super laid out. Ideally, I'd like to just present the rule, do some copywork, dictation, play a game or two and move on. I have also been thinking of supplementing another phonics program for my DS who is 5 as he is somewhat stuck on the blending. I'd also prefer to cuddle on the couch to teach him to read then sit at the table and cut and paste. So I was considering Phonics Pathways for him, at least for a bit and maybe get back into AAR a little later on w/ him when the pace isn't so painful. Can Phonics Pathways solve both my problems? Can I teach my younger son to read and my older son to spell and not have to purchase anything else?

I am using the Little Hands Art Book with my boys and they love it. It's got lots of neat ideas and most crafts utilize supplies that one would normally have in the house :)

Would Phonics Pathways be a good program to use before we go back to AAR? It looks like something we can do from the couch in just a few minutes a day, and it's inexpensive. Thoughts?

My 7 y/o also likes to read books that are baby-ish to him, I think that is pretty normal. At other times, he chooses books that are more advanced then his level. I figure as long as he is reading, I don't care what level it is at. My goal is to instill a love of reading, I feel to accomplish that I really need to allow him the freedom to read whatever he chooses, even if it's his baby brother's "My First Word" book. In all honesty, sometimes I like to read a book that is light and doesn't challenge me either, so how can I expect anything different from my children. I find the best time to implement silent reading is at bedtime. I put my kids to bed a few minutes early and give them a chance to read whatever they want. They think they're staying up a bit later, but they are really not ;) We've also incorporated a 15 minute silent reading period during the day (for my older ds) where he can choose whatever he wants, as long as he gets to choose the book then I don't get any resistance. He usually reads much more than this in a day, he has become quite an avid reader, but it has only been in the last few months. We also have books that we require the kids to read, but I don't require it during their silent reading times, only during our read alouds and not every day. As for 30 min reading aloud, if your dd is resisting, why not start w/ a shorter period of time and work your way up incrementally. I agree w/ the other posters, 30 min at 6.5 is a really long time. Another suggestion is to take turn reading pages. Last year my ds would resist reading aloud, but he quite enjoyed reading to me when I read every other page.

He's turning 5 next month. He's done a bit on starfall, but we haven't used it for a while. Good suggestion :)

I'm going through AAR level 1 w/ my very young Ker. I was torn b/n level 1 and pre-1, pre-1 looked to easy for him so I chose level 1. However, I'm finding level 1 is going painfully slow, even though he quite likes it. I'm thinking I should maybe shelve it for a bit until he's a touch older. Any recommendations for a pre-reading curriculum that is fun but won't break the bank?

I am mostly satisfied, but I am really disapointed in my big ticket items that I bought (spelling and reading). We are using the same math from last year which worked great for us and so far I'm happy w/ it again this year. Otherwise, I am happy w/ all my new curriculum and am still pleased w/ the stuff we carried over from last year. I have some changes to make, and need to tweak some stuff and then we'll be well on our way :)

Thank you so much for your feedback, he is slowly starting to get the blending (ever so slowly). Your game ideas are great and I think we will incorporate some games into our lessons just to change it up. We're still on lesson 6 and I think we may camp out here for another little while yet. I knew level 1 would be a bit of a stretch for him, but we can take our time and go through it slowly :)

Ok, I think I'm convinced. I am also considering buying the LOE game book to add some fun to it. Has anyone used this book alongside a different program?

That looks pretty similar to what we do. I'm doing K and 2 and we're done by lunch most days :)

Thank you very much. I think I'm going to give this a try. If it doesn't work out, I can always try LoE later on. I like this as a low cost option and it seems do-able. PookieMama, your blog and spreadsheet are very helpful. I will definitely be downloading your spreadsheets. One more question, I understand that the TM is not open and go, but what about the workbooks? If I have the workbooks, can I just pick it up and teach? Also, with this program do you do spelling every day?

Thank you very much for your responses to this thread, I do believe spelling is the bain of my existance :glare: LOE is another program I am looking at, but I have a hard time swallowing the cost since I spent a truck load on AAS and AAR and am not particularly happy with either. Does spelling really have to be this difficult? I mean, can't we just learn some rules, practice them and play some games? Must I really beat my head against a wall trying to figure out where to go from here? My kid is only 7. The thing that scares me with HTTS is everything I've read indicates that the TM is hard to understand. We're having a new baby, who will have health issues, very soon so I know I am not going to have much time to figure out a new program. I like a little hand holding, but I find too much scripting cumbersome. Why can't I find a RightStart for spelling? That would be perfect! Ok, enough whining. If I were to go w/ HTTS, I would need the TM and workbook - yes? As I understand it, there are no specific lessons in the TM, but rather I would follow the pace of the workbook and teach the appropriate sections from the TM, correct? Oh, and can I make up my own phonogram and/or rule cards as we go on index cards or would that be too much work?

I am switching spelling programs in a month or two and this program seems to fit the bill but I can't seem to find many reviews on it. I am looking for an inexpensive, easy to use (i.e. pretty much open and go) rule based program that presents the rule, gives the child some practice, has some dictation and then moves on. I don't need a bunch of manipulatives or bells and whistles. I just want to get the job done as painlessly as possible. My son is workbook averse, but will tolerate a little bit of book work once in a while. I'm hoping this program is not super workbook-y, if it is then it won't work for us. Also, my DS will have completed AAS level 2 before moving into this program, is HTS 2 a good place to start? I appreciate any feedback, both positive or negative! TIA :)

Has no one used the games book?

No way!

Anyone?

I am currently using AAS to teach my 7.5 y/o spelling but we are finding it slow and boring. He is a workbook averse kid who is not particularly fond of manipulatives but loves games, so I was thinking of using WRTR with LoE`s game set. Would this work?

I'm interested in this too. We're also using AAS and neither of us are particularly fond. You've asked all the questions that I have so I'll be watching this thread with great interest :)

We use RS math and LOVE it! If you are looking to supplement something fun into your math program, I would recommend the RS Math Games book. It's loaded w/ fun game ideas :)

We began WWE1 half way through first grade and it made a tremendous difference in my DS writing. He began using proper spacing, proper punctuation and using upper/lower case letters more appropriately and it is very gentle. As for letter formation, we are using Penny Gardner's italics (I bought the download, it is ver inexpensive and is used for multi-grades!). Both of us are really enjoying the program. I only have him spend 3-5 minutes on it per day, but I require him to put in his best effort. Last year I had him complete a whole page of writing and would make him sit there until it was done no matter how long it took. I'm finding the shorter practice much better for him. I am getting far neater work w/ much less resistance.

I've been using AAR 1 w/ my almost 5 y/o for the past month and a half and neither of us are thrilled. Despite working on it nearly daily for 1.5 months, we're only on lesson 6. My ds finds it discouraging to do all that work and not get to put a sticker on his sticker chart. I find the lessons are very long, in contrast to AAS lessons which are very short. I wish they broke the lessons up more. I also think the program is over priced and I don't think the books are anything special. Despite all that, it does seem to be effective as my DS is beginning to read. However, I wish I had saved my money as I'm sure I could have taught him to read using a less costly method (I taught my older DS to read using free materials!). I expected it to be a lot more fun based on the reviews I had read.

It's really quite simple. I set mine up in just a few minutes, we started using it a few weeks ago and it is really effective. :)

I`ve had to throw the 5 day schedule into the shredder this year as I am having pregnancy complications and am at the hospital a minimum of 2 days a week. We are school doing 2-3 days per week and I am really finding it a lot less stressful allowing the weeks to spill over than to try and cram it all in. We are a lot less burned out. Our year will take longer than usual, but that is okay.