Oh No! My RS spelling curriculum came in and I don't like it! help!!!

[simka2]

Okay...so here it goes. I ordered the spelling levels 3 and 4 for my rising 3rd and 4th graders. I really wanted something that taught the spelling rules directly to my kids...not just ME teaching them.

 

Well, the level 3 doesn't have any spelling rules in the student manual (ugggh)...level 4 does.

 

Should I look for another 3rd grade program?

Combine them all in level 4? (please pick this one ;) )

Or look for something all together different?

 

Appreciate your help!

[jjcmehl]

I say stick with it or combine both into 4.

 

Many people say that R&S is one level behind. So, grade 4 would work for grade 3.

 

My children have picked-up so much this year. This was our first year with R&S Spelling. We used 2 & 3.

 

I don't know how a thumbs down icon appeared on my message. I give it a thumbs up!

[simka2]

Thanks for the reply!

 

I had never heard that RS was a level behind....hmmmm....maybe I will have to combine for this as well :)

 

Anyone else?

[arstephia]

I have never heard that R&S is behind. We used it this year with 4 and 6, and it wasn't quite what I was looking for either. If you can combine them, I'd go that route.

[Michelle My Bell]

I use Spelling Workout and we love it. Every week it has a spelling rule listed at the top of the page and all the words and most of the activities help teach the rule. It is cheap too.

[Tree House Academy]

If R&S Spelling is behind, then my poor son is REALLY behind in spelling as he finished 5th grade this year and wasn't quite done with the 4th grade spelling book. I have never heard of anything by R&S being "behind" now that I think about it...except maybe the math, but I think that is more to do with the WAY it is taught - if you go all the way through R&S math, you are right on track with everyone else by about the end of 6th grade.

[specialmama]

:iagree: R&S is not behind. It is advanced.

[jjcmehl]

When I mean RS spelling is behind, it is in relation to other spelling programs we have came across. This is more true for the 2nd and 3rd grade words, IMHO.

 

We still like it!

[Woodland_Mom]

I found level 2 and 3 to be just right for my boys. Not too hard. Not too tough. When I used level 3 I spent a little time writing the spelling rules out on stickey notes and inserting them on the student pages. When my son got to that week, he read/studied the rule I had written out. We then stuck the note up on the board for him to see all week. The exercise in the R&S books do tend to be no-nonsense and help the kids learn how to spell. They don't seem like busy work to me.

[johnandtinagilbert]

:iagree: combine and return year 3! Tee question is, is level 4 right for your dc? Whether or not it's behind or ahead is irrelevant (just sayin').

[TracyR]

I can't say that its behind but its much 'gentler' then other spelling programs we've come across.

I used R&S 2 with my oldest and 2nd daughter , they were 2nd and 1st graders the year I used it. My 1st grader was able to do the program and the words seemed very simple for 2nd grade. Considering the year before I used Christian Liberty's spelling (which is even better in my opinion). Actually for what your looking for you may like Christian Liberty's spelling much better then the R&S. They use spelling rules right from the get go (1st grade) in their spelling program. It is set up pretty much the same way R&S spelling is anyways. I'm actually surprised I never see their spelling program mentioned. It really is good and inexpensive too.

 

If you want to use R&S still and you have a good speller on your hands I would go a level up. If you have an average to struggling student then their spelling is just right.