mlbuchina Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 :confused: I was all set to use SW A, but I have just seen the AAS materials. What are the pros and cons? Has anyone started with one, and then switched to the other? I am really beginning to think I need to switch to AAS. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kate in Arabia Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 I have used Spelling Workout A with both my boys. With my older it was great, he did well and is now on SWO F. With my younger it was a disaster; we have suffered through SWO B this year but will be switching to All About Spelling next year and see if that isn't a better fit. I think it depends on the child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 We tried Spelling workout (I think that's what you're referring too, I forget my abbreviations at times) and even though my son could work through it and get them all right on a spelling test he didn't retain them for long after that. We've used AAS for the past year and I can say that he has retained all that he was taught. It tells him the "whys", like why you use a K in the beginning of words like kid, kick and key (because if you used c is would sound like s) He now understands that rule and it's not stuck, both of my kids also enjoy using the letter tiles which lets them "feel" spelling instead of just memorize and regurgitate. If given a choice I would definately pick AAS over Spelling workout just because of that. I don't know how much I helped but let me know if you have any specific questions or check out The Chatterbee, which are AAS specific forums. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzannah Posted May 29, 2009 Share Posted May 29, 2009 We've used 6 levels of Spelling Workout with DS. I just replied to the other thread about SWO and you can read more there. This year I've been using All About Spelling-A with DD who has low vision. It is much more teacher intensive. There's a script to follow. There's this activity and then that activity and there are letters and cards and a workbook to keep up with. Frankly, SWO spoiled me. It's definitely less expensive and requires less time from the teacher. With AAS we spend a lot of "spelling time" looking for letters that got dropped on the floor or trying to remember where I put them when I took them away from the toddler last time. For this reason, we don't always do spelling. It looms over me and I think "Well, we'll just do that tomorrow and work on grammar today." Having said that, I do think it's a good program. DD is doing well so far and I do think that for a child who isn't a natural speller or primarily visual, this approach is very thorough. We actually use magnetic, lower-case letters rather than the letter tiles. This is a slight inconvenience when working on blends/digraphs, but we have about 4 complete alphabets so it's just a matter of finding the right ones. Because of DD's vision, I wanted a larger letter than the tiles show and DD said she prefers feeling the shape of the letter too. I am in the market though for something else. Phonetic Zoo looks appealing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mlbuchina Posted May 30, 2009 Author Share Posted May 30, 2009 Thanks so much for the input! It is so helpful to get advice from those who have "been there, done that". Thanks again!! I believe that AAS would be a better fit for my dd6. It may even help me! I'm one of those that can read anything you put in front of, but can't spell my way out of a bucket. LOL Now to persuade dh...:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nukeswife Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 We've used 6 levels of Spelling Workout with DS. I just replied to the other thread about SWO and you can read more there. This year I've been using All About Spelling-A with DD who has low vision. It is much more teacher intensive. There's a script to follow. There's this activity and then that activity and there are letters and cards and a workbook to keep up with. Frankly, SWO spoiled me. It's definitely less expensive and requires less time from the teacher. With AAS we spend a lot of "spelling time" looking for letters that got dropped on the floor or trying to remember where I put them when I took them away from the toddler last time. For this reason, we don't always do spelling. It looms over me and I think "Well, we'll just do that tomorrow and work on grammar today." Having said that, I do think it's a good program. DD is doing well so far and I do think that for a child who isn't a natural speller or primarily visual, this approach is very thorough. We actually use magnetic, lower-case letters rather than the letter tiles. This is a slight inconvenience when working on blends/digraphs, but we have about 4 complete alphabets so it's just a matter of finding the right ones. Because of DD's vision, I wanted a larger letter than the tiles show and DD said she prefers feeling the shape of the letter too. I am in the market though for something else. Phonetic Zoo looks appealing. I don't mean to be snarky in anyway, but I'm confused about the "workbook to keep up with" in your description. AAS doesn't have a workbook, just a TM, letter tiles and cards, were you speaking of the TM? We also keep all our tiles on a whiteboard on the wall so I don't have to worry about arranging them each day, although I have heard of some using a large cookie sheet for this too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted May 30, 2009 Share Posted May 30, 2009 You can use lauri letters with any spelling program that you choose. ;) They don't have to be magnetic... just work horizontally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suzannah Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Sorry, not workbook, teacher's manual. With so many of our lessons, I don't actually NEED the TM unless I'm grading something a bit tricky or time-consuming. That sort of makes it a pain when I have to go dig it out for spelling. We use the magnetic letters because I already have them & didn't want to buy something extra. We actually got AAS from a friend but she's still using the letter tiles. I was just being cheap. I don't have a magnetic whiteboard at this time. I'm hoping to get one, but it'll be replacing a lovely landscape in my living room so I am being picky about the frame. I'd really rather not leave the letters on the board all the time. We use cookie sheets and a metal board that I bought several years ago to use with magnetic words for sentence construction. If I had a place to put the cookie sheet with the letters still on it and know that it would be undisturbed until the next time I'd probably do it. But it's also one of my 3 cookie sheets. So...when baking I sort of need it. I redid a lot of our school supply set-up last summer. I'm hoping to do some more this summer to take care of our constant storage issues. But since I don't have a dedicated school room, I'm trying to strike a balance between "school-in-progress" and "relaxing living room/dining room." All that to say, yeah, SWO spoiled me. If I'd started with AAS I probably wouldn't think anything of keeping up with the different parts. I don't think about it with our math manipulatives. But SWO is very easy to deal with in comparison. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in the UP of MI Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 If I had a place to put the cookie sheet with the letters still on it and know that it would be undisturbed until the next time I'd probably do it. I keep mine on top of the refrigerator! I used to use a cookie sheet too but this is so much more convenient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinkgumby Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 I have AAS 1 and 2, and because of the teacher-intensive time issue (in other words, I tend to put it off in lieu of other things), I went ahead and ordered Spelling Workout for this Fall. I am keeping AAS and still want to do it, to a point . . . but I wanted something I KNOW I could be more consistent with. I wish my energy and motivation always lived up to my ambitions . . . :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 You can use lauri letters with any spelling program that you choose. ;) They don't have to be magnetic... just work horizontally. This is an absolute fabulous idea! I love it! I never seem to come up with simple ideas on my own. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lovedtodeath Posted June 1, 2009 Share Posted June 1, 2009 Avalanche Of Letters Choose from the mini version with 500 letters and punctuations for word building fun or the regular version which has over 1,000 pieces! http://www.liveandlearn.com/lauri/index.html This is what I got. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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