AAR Level 1 and Blending

[SnMomof7]

We are coming to the end of AAR Pre-1 and we've really enjoyed it. My almost 6-yo isn't REALLY blending yet, though she has made GREAT strides in phonological awareness using the Pre-1 program.

 

When I taught DD 1 (now 8) to read, blending was always tricky, and we went through quite a few programs while we waited for blending to kick in on its own (basically) and it was all easy (well - relatively) after that.

 

So, folks who've gone through AAR Level 1 - how is blending taught? Is it really seamless and painless for kids? Did it really help to teach blending?

 

We have the A Beka reading materials I used with DD #1 (A Handbook for Reading and the leveled readers) - but those aren't so great unless your kid knows how to blend ;), but we do love everything AALP produces (AAS & AAR) so I'd *LIKE* to buy AAR Level 1.

 

I hope I'm not rambling. :lol:

 

So, AAR Level 1 folks - how is it going in the blending department?

[FairProspects]

Blending is taught by using the tiles in AAR 1. You are told to move across the tiles and speed up (basically Pre-Level 1 but using tiles :)) and have the child put the sounds together to show how you blend. Then you do a word switch with tiles to show that the final sound sat-mat-rat-cat, etc. stays the same.

 

I'm not sure I'm much help, because I think I'm using AAR with the wrong child. I'm actually considering returning it because as fun as it is, it moves way too slowly for ds 2, and I didn't realize that reading the stories from the readers counts as a "lesson" so there are really only something like 25 phonics lessons we would use. Ugh, I don't know what to do either.

[SnMomof7]

Thanks :). I think that does help. I THINK we will try it :).