socody Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 My dd is 3.5 and I'm looking ahead to teaching her reading in a few months. We have OPGTR, but I want to supplement with something more visual... which is better, ETC or ASS? Especially with a limited budget... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloggermom Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I own both and ultimately decided to use the Explode the Code. I just didn't want to deal with all those tiles and things. The ETC is so straightforward and my son really enjoys it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Bmom Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 We love ETC. We use the TMs to make it our primary phonics program. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taffnus Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 We used ETC books 1-5 and it was a complete waste of time for my dd. I can't think of a single thing she actually learned from ETC other than to dislike workbooks. I understand others find it beneficial...it just wasn't a good fit for my dd. I started AAS1 at 5.5 and she's now 8 and in AAS4. My dd5 is doing AAR1 and AAS1. I would, without any doubt at all, choose AAR for a little one, if you're goal is to teach her to read. I think AAS is a little old for the typical 3yo. AAR (Pre-1) would probably be more suitable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Well, AAS is more expensive but OTOH most of it is non-consumable so you can resell it after you're done. I'm not a big fan of workbooks in the primary grades so ETC was never something I seriously considered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3Blessings Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 I don't know much about AAS, but it does seem a little pricey. ETC, on the other hand, is fairly inexpensive. When I first started working with my daughter (4.5) in her reading, she enjoyed ETC. We did it together, it was fun. But now that she is reading so well I find that she doesn't enjoy it as much. Maybe I need to bump up the level . . . ?:confused: I did want to share that I have read a lot on here about using ETC for spelling purposes. I think that might be a great idea. I haven't tried it yet, but it might be a more gentle approach because even though she reads well she isn't ready to write everything on her own. Just food for thought. HTH! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KristenR Posted February 6, 2012 Share Posted February 6, 2012 Without a doubt we would go with AAS. I do like ETC but my dd is growing very bored with them. At first she really enjoyed them, and I do plan on continuing with them but we limit it now and use it more for writing practice than anything else. AAS seems more "teachable" to me. It's fun. We started out using the tiles and as your child gets older and more comfortable writing they can just switch to paper and pencil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katemac Posted August 7, 2012 Share Posted August 7, 2012 DS5 is using ETC, but he is finding it boring when he's nearing the end of ETC3 (he started with ETC2). I think ETC taught him the basics to spell. But in order to spice things up a bit, you'll still need some sort of fun program like AAS or SWR. I'm thinking of starting AAS1 with him this fall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFM Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 We use both, my kids love ETC, they think the sentences are silly and fun. My poor speller has learned from both AAS and ETC, I tell him we will continue to use ETC as long as he enjoys them. Also, he is already a great reader (he's in 3rd) but needed some remedial help in phonics for spelling purposes. So, we are going through each of the books rather quickly. My four year old enjoys doing her "homework" which is the Primer ETC, she likes them and I hate workbooks but they seem to enjoy them and it's not too much. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharilynn29 Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 I've used both and enjoy both. My dd has enjoyed both as well. The biggest difference is that AAS really taught her to read better and spell better. My D's would've done fine with ETC, but my struggling reader needed AAS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ByGrace3 Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 We use both. dd is going through the ETC books as phonics reinforcement, and uses AAS for spelling. I can't see using ETC for spelling. DS uses ETC for a phonics supplement to OPGTR and will use AAS when we get to first grade for spelling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfamilygal Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 AAS has made a huge difference for all my older kids. Their spelling/reading ability has greatly improved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 We love ETC, but I think it's comparing apples and oranges. I don't think one is better than the other - this is a case where it's completely about your teaching style and your kids' learning style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skeeterbug Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 My dd is 3.5 and I'm looking ahead to teaching her reading in a few months. We have OPGTR, but I want to supplement with something more visual... which is better, ETC or ASS? Especially with a limited budget... At that age I'd start with ETC books A,B,C before looking at AAS. And you did mean AAS, right? Just looking at your abbreviation in the quote above...:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Micron4 Posted August 8, 2012 Share Posted August 8, 2012 We love ETC, but I think it's comparing apples and oranges. I don't think one is better than the other - this is a case where it's completely about your teaching style and your kids' learning style. :iagree: I have ETC, AAS, and AAR pre-level 1. I think they are all great programs, but it depends on teaching and learning styles and abilities. I also have a dd3.5, and we have been going through the AAR pre-level 1. She absolutely loves it--it has a wide variety of activities that she really enjoys. I had been on the fence about it for a while, but now I'm glad I spent the $ to get it for her. She loves the Ziggy puppet and the associated Ziggy games--it's a really cute program and perfect for her age and ability. I glanced at my older dd's ETC1 book today after I saw your post, but I don't feel my dd3.5 is ready yet. Perhaps your child is, though, check out the samples online. The "Before the Code" books are good, but they are more focused on identifying individual letters and letter sounds. If you are looking for *reading* reinforcement for CVC words, the ETC1 is better but it does require some writing. My dd3.5 also likes playing with the AAS tiles to make CVC words. They are great, but at this stage you could probably also just use any magnetic letters you have. I am finishing AAS1 with dd6 and she has learned a lot, but it would be way too much for my dd3.5. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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