hischool
-
Posts
41 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Classifieds
Store
Posts posted by hischool
-
-
I used AAS to afterschool my dd but returned it before finishing AAS 1. My dd can remember the rules but I can tell she does not use the rules when she spells. I just feel that it is not a good way to spend our time. I read an article online about rule-based spelling awhile ago. (forgot the source) Basically it says that there are just too many rules and too many exceptions for it to be an effective learning tool.
-
Hancock and Moore and Whittemore Sherrill. I did a lot of research a couple years ago when I was in the market for a sofa. These 2 companies make leather sofa that are 8-way hand tied which people told me is the highest quality. I now have a Whittemore Sherrill sofa and it still looks as good as new. :D
-
I am a newbie here but I think you will get the same answers as your previous thread, i.e. Singapore, MUS, RightStart, Rod & Staff, BJU, CLE, Math Mammoth etc.
No curriculum is perfect. If choosing a new curriculum is giving you so much stress, maybe you can continue Rod & Staff while you do more research?
-
I would not use AAS to teach a K student to read. We just started AAS level 1 and in step 1, the student needs to learn all the sounds of the first 26 phonograms. Some phonograms has more than one sound, e.g. y has 4 sounds and a has 3 sounds. I can't imagine having a K student memorize all of this in step 1 if he/she is not reading fairly well already. A learning to read phonics program like 100 easy lessons and progressive phonics will introduce one sound at a time gently and will be a better fit I think.
I know the author and AAS affiliates say it can be used to teach reading. However, you can use it does not mean it's the best way to do it. I can see using AAS to do remedial reading with an older student, but definitely not for K IMO.
-
Maybe you can cut back 30-50% of the current workload? For example, you can do one-on-one with one child a night and extend it to an hour. That should help with the lesson planning time too.
I work full time and we only afterschool 3 nights a week. I see afterschooling as a Marathon and my goal is to keep going. I know if I push too hard, we will just get burnt out and quit!
-
I emailed Marie this morning and mentioned this thread. I just received an email from her with this link: http://www.all-about-spelling.com/about.html The page talks about her background and she states that she began college at a teaching college and also that she trained as a literacy tutor. Though she doesn't say specifically what her degree is, it's obvious to me that her speciality was education and literacy.
AAS is a great, well thought out program.
Thanks for posting the link! Really appreciate it. :001_smile:
-
My suggestion is to go to the website and ask the questions you want directly from her, I plan to do that and not post a question like this on here again.
Kim
Sounds good to me Kim. :001_smile:
-
:iagree: What she said :D
I don't.
I think a lot of times on these boards moms (myself included) get caught up with the "trend". I bought AAS because it's "the" program for spelling. English is not my first language and I learned spelling through rote memorization.
If Marie, a homeschool mom, is ashamed to admit her credential, then why should I have confidence in her? Would you hire someone who refuses to give you his/her resume in an interview? :confused:
I only afterschool my dd. I admire other homeschool mothers and only wish I have the resources to be one. I frequent this board because I have gained such knowledge about curriculums and education on this board from other homeschool moms. However, if being homeschool means to never question anything, I would rather be in public school for life. :D
-
I'm sorry, but I'm wondering why you are second guessing your decision. This is an excellent program as evidenced by the large number of people who have used it successfully. Are you implying that this woman couldn't possibly create a quality program just because she's not a teacher and she might possibly be JUST a homeschooling mom? That seems a little like the pot calling the kettle black IMHO.quote]
Well because I think the OP asked a very straight forward question and should be given a straight forward answer. I am second guessing because AAS seems to dodge the OP's question and did not give her an answer. It makes me feel that they're not confident about their own credentials. KWIM?
I am sorry if I offended anyone. It's not my intention at all.
-
Kim have you heard back from AAS?
Since I saw your question, I have been second guessing my curriculum choice. :confused: I recently ordered 2 levels of AAS but haven't started using it yet. I think this is a very legitimate question and one that I never thought to ask!
-
If they've done well on the lessons, you might consider skipping the quizzes, reducing each Light Unit by two. As Rhonda said, you can also skip the X01 Light Units if you don't need the review. And you might consider doing math six days a week and/or year-round. Even 3-4 days a week during the summer if you normally take off then will help. I know that's not a popular solution, but we've done that to catch up and it won't kill them, I promise!
:iagree: Working hard is the only way to catch up. There are no miracles.
-
How does a child not forget things in a program like this? (I really want to switch to Singapore but hesitate for this reason)
Well in Singapore, students have frequent quizes, tests and exams. Mastery/spiral does not make much of a difference because they have to constantly review previously taught material to prepare for tests and exams.
-
I'm a newbie too and we're only afterschooling.
I push my child as much as possible. My motto is "pushing without tears" :D.
I really think there are more pushers than people will openly admit.
On the other hand, it maybe the curriculum that you're using doesn't fit your dd. I have the same experience. I change curriculum a couple times and I found that sometimes, the grass is really greener!
-
It hasn't affected my choices but it makes me feel a little guilty spending money, even though I'm buying curriculum LOL.
-
Now I'm tempted. I don't even know what Smartglobe is before this thread. :lol: Is it something that a 4-year-old will enjoy? :D
-
I wish they have the cards pre-cut. Even with the perforated version, there's still tearing and I really don't trust my tearing skills LOL.
I will probably end up taking it to kinkos :D
-
forming letters consistently and spacing them evenly are developmental skills; they simply require practice :)
Tracing letters is a less effective way to learn because it doesn't require the child to rely on his/ her visual memory to form the letters correctly; visualizing the letter in his / her mind and then forming it on paper allows for better integration of the skill, and establishes "muscle memory", which will allow your dc to form the letters automatically later on.
Tracing letters has a neater appearance int the short run, but it's a less effective method for teaching handwriting.
HTH!
Good point, I never though of that. I think part of me want her to start tracing because she has less fuss and got it done quicker :lol: grr, no pain no gain I guess.
-
Thansk Pam & Sharon.
Sharon that looks great! I have lined paper from HWOT too but never used it. Maybe it's time to take it out.
How much time do you spend on handwriting each day/week? We haven't been consistent in doing it at all. Sometimes we do a bunch of pages, and other times we skip it for 2 weeks. So I don't really know if HWOT is not working for us, or I just need to make it a daily task.
-
I have 3 levels of HWOT. Pre K, K and first grade. My dd is 4 and has done the pre K and K book.
What she has learned from HWOT is letter formation. She can form all letters and numbers correctly now. I want to focus on her sizing and spacing next.
I also have the StartWrite software. I am wondering if I should:
- Start the K book again which focus on letter, words and simple sentence.
- Start the first grade book which from what I see is similar to the K book, just longer sentences and more repetition.
- Use StartWrite and have her trace it?
I tried using StartWrite to make copywork for her. She copied it but the letter spacing and sizing is all over the place.
Any idea?
-
I have read that there's a lot of cutting with the cards. Can someone tell me just how much cutting really?
I am trying to decide if I should go ahead and order now, or hold out for the perforated version in Jan.
If the cutting is reasonable, I would like to get it now so I can review it over Christmas.
Thanks!
-
I am going to order AAS too. At this point, I can't tell you if it's worth the money. To me, a curriculum is worth thousands if it fits my child and helps her learn that particular skill. If it's not a good fit, then I don't want it even if it's free.
Time will tell but I have a good gut feeling about AAS. ;)
-
If I were to start all over again, I will not stick with a program just because it's popular. :D
-
Thanks Alice! I will check it out!
-
Thank you both!
I actually have the Ikea one already and we use it everyday! :D The Melissa & Doug one is nice but I really need the magnetic dry erase surface.
I am getting the teaching easel to use with AAS's tiles. I have considered getting just a magnetic board for like $20 - 30. But I imagine it will be kind of a pain to use a 2' x 3' board without an easel.
I guess I have to decide whether to bite the bullet and get a overpriced easel, or just get a cheap easel and a board.
AAS NOT work for your kids?
in K-8 Curriculum Board
Posted
Fair enough. However, knowing that mi is wrong will not help the kid come to the conclusion that the word should be spelled my. The kid knows it should be my because he/she memorized it.
I am just saying in my dd's case, she can spend 5 minutes to remember why badge isn't spelled baj. Or she can use the same 5 minutes to memorize the spelling of 10 other words.
I prefer to teach my dd that 2+2 is 4 first, instead of telling her to remember 2+2 is not 5, 7, or 9 because even number plus even number is always an even number.