................... Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 I'd like to know a little more about AAS. Right now my son is reading at about a first grade level and can spell simple cvc words or maybe silent-e words. AAS would place him in level B. Q1: If I use AAS with my son, would that negate the need for a phonics workbook this year? I really would like to do phonics this year, but we don't have time and patience for phonics, and spelling. But it seems to me that since AAS covers all the phonemes, then I would not have to teach phonics separately this year. He'll be getting plenty of reading practice from graded readers *and* library books, and he'll be getting plenty of other LA...so we're just talking phonics and spelling here. Q2: Is 20 minutes per day correct? Q3: Do you like this program. Has anyone used it and disliked it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pamjk Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 After completing level one last month, we're using AAS level 2 with both kids. Both of mine need extra phonics reinforcement, as it has not come naturally for either of them. I'm finding that AAS is all the phonics we need. It's great when one resource covers two subjects- yay! Yes, we spend about 20 minutes per day. Sometimes I spend an extra 10 minutes with my 8yo as it's not easy for her. I do like this program and will continue with it, planning for level 3 in the fall. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catherine Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 separate reading program. He did OPGTR last year, completed it and reads very well. Spelling is a totally different story, though. He didn't fare well at all with SWO-I suspect a memory issue maybe? So I started him a AAS level A in January, and he is maybe going to finish it this spring. 20 minutes, yes, or maybe a little less some days. I try to keep the lessons brief and to the point. I love it. He definitely needed the phonemic awareness training for spelling, and I now see him saying the phonograms when he is trying to write something. Before, he would just take a stab and was often waaay off. Also before, he seemed not able to see when something was spelled incorrectly, now, he often can "see" it, and will even say it doesn't look right, and then say the rule to himself. He doesn't beg for spelling, but I will say he likes filling out the color chart when he completes a level, and likes spelling the words correctly on the "test" at then end of each level. It works best when I try to keep the lessons very short. I would strongly consider starting at level A. It's where the phonograms are taught, and for a child who is still learning reading, I thing that would be helpful practice. Just my 2 cents. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamturner Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 I started with level A with my strong reading 2nd graders this past year and they finished it quickly and moved on to level B already. I do think it laid the foundation for all the phonics sounds for all the letters and also the spelling rules (Key Cards). I agree that you would not need another phonics program. I think you can use it as dictation practice as well. When you get to the end of each lesson and you are dictating each word and other words/phrases that serve as review, you can count that as handwriting/dictation practice as well. With my 2nd graders, I even dictated some sentences when we were learning about them in our grammar lessons. I would ask them to tell me what kind of sentence it was and so forth. HTHs! Take care! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teamturner Posted May 5, 2008 Share Posted May 5, 2008 Q2: Is 20 minutes per day correct? Q3: Do you like this program. Has anyone used it and disliked it? We probably only spend 15 minutes each day and I love, love AAS. Especially now that I have the magnets for the letter tiles!! The kids like it too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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