R&S spelling, Sequential Spelling, Spectrum workbook...need some input

[sarahv]

I did AAS last year. The companion books were awesome all around, the actual program was ok. What I found out was that I really don't like to teach spelling. I'd like to cover it in a less teacher intensive manner without it costing me an arm and a leg. My kids are average spellers, and my oldest does well with a more tactile/multi-sensory approach.

 

Any thoughts from Sequential Spelling users? What materials do I really need?

 

I am a strong speller, and have spelling resources on hand, so I'm wondering if I need the TM?

 

I'm also considering the Spectrum workbook - not as a supplement, but instead of Sequential spelling. Anyone use that? Or maybe as a supplement. I don't know. I just don't want to have to think about spelling, you know?

 

I've also been looking at R&S spelling.

 

Thanks for your comments!!

[SorrelZG]

I don't know anything about a TM for SS. Just the book and the student response sheets and the student sheets are not needful. You need the book, something for the child to write on (if you don't get the Student sheets), a couple of dry erase markers in different colors and something for you to write with them on.

[sarahv]

Is it easy to use?

[SorrelZG]

Is it easy to use?

 

Yes. Have you checked out the free 8 week sample? You just open the book, say the first word, make up a sentence with the word in it, repeat the word, child attempts word, you write the word up on the board (or whatever you're writing on) in the manner explained in the beginning (or sample) of the book and child corrects the word, if needed, immediately. Repeat .. usually 24 more times.

 

That sounds dull but for some reason my son thought it was a game. Either way, it was easy to do though granted, not as easy as being able to hand a child a workbook they can do themselves.

[boscopup]

R&S teaches roughly the same phonics and rules as AAS. I switched to it because I wanted something less teacher intensive also. It's been exactly what I was looking for.

 

SS doesn't teach rules or phonics, but instead has children infer by pattern. Unless you use the DVDs, it won't be any less teacher intensive than AAS.

[sarahv]

Yes. Have you checked out the free 8 week sample? You just open the book, say the first word, make up a sentence with the word in it, repeat the word, child attempts word, you write the word up on the board (or whatever you're writing on) in the manner explained in the beginning (or sample) of the book and child corrects the word, if needed, immediately. Repeat .. usually 24 more times.

 

That sounds dull but for some reason my son thought it was a game. Either way, it was easy to do though granted, not as easy as being able to hand a child a workbook they can do themselves.

 

Lol. For some reason it appeals to me. :tongue_smilie:

 

I'll check out the sample. Thank you!

[sarahv]

R&S teaches roughly the same phonics and rules as AAS. I switched to it because I wanted something less teacher intensive also. It's been exactly what I was looking for.

 

SS doesn't teach rules or phonics, but instead has children infer by pattern. Unless you use the DVDs, it won't be any less teacher intensive than AAS.

 

This is good to know. Do you use the TM or just the student book for R&S?

[boscopup]

This is good to know. Do you use the TM or just the student book for R&S?

 

I use the TM. It's cheap. You could technically do without it, though I think in grade 4 it starts adding dictation in the tests.

[twinmami01]

We are using Sequential Spelling. I got the whole set, the dvd, the revised teachers guide and revised student workbook. I hate teaching spelling and to me, it was worth the investment. You can get the complete set for about $42 on Christianbook.com, Amazon, and Rainbow Resources. We have never tried it without the dvd. Since we do the dvd, I haven't found the teacher's guide to be very useful. It would come in handy if you decided not to use the dvd.

[learningmama]

We've used Spectrum the past few years. We are switching to R&S this year. We work a grade level ahead because word lists in both seem easy. Both books are very open and go and straight forward (cheap too).

[sarahv]

We are using Sequential Spelling. I got the whole set, the dvd, the revised teachers guide and revised student workbook. I hate teaching spelling and to me, it was worth the investment. You can get the complete set for about $42 on Christianbook.com, Amazon, and Rainbow Resources. We have never tried it without the dvd. Since we do the dvd, I haven't found the teacher's guide to be very useful. It would come in handy if you decided not to use the dvd.

 

Can you give me a little mini-review on how the DVD works? Will you buy the DVD for the next level, too? Can the kids do it themselves, or do you operate the remote? (I just read that you have to pause it to repeat the word and then write it)

 

Thanks so much for your thoughts!

[sarahv]

We've used Spectrum the past few years. We are switching to R&S this year. We work a grade level ahead because word lists in both seem easy. Both books are very open and go and straight forward (cheap too).

 

Why did you choose to make the switch? And have you found R&S to have the same kind of exercises for using the spelling words? It's one thing I kind of like about Spectrum, that it seems to give ample opportunity for usage and development of the lists. At least it seems to from the examples anyway. :)

[twinmami01]

Can you give me a little mini-review on how the DVD works? Will you buy the DVD for the next level, too? Can the kids do it themselves, or do you operate the remote? (I just read that you have to pause it to repeat the word and then write it)

 

Thanks so much for your thoughts!

 

 

I initially purchased it with the intention of having my boys work on it themselves. I have since realized that I need to sit with them to insure they are not slacking and correcting themselves. I am hoping eventually I can have them working on their own. I will be purchasing the next level, although I do realize it's not necessary. I just feel like this way, I know it will get done. You can see samples of the DVD on you tube as well as the Avko website. We do it on the iPad, so I basically copied the videos to iTunes so we can watch it. They say the word, use it in a sentence and then I pause it so they can spell it. They then show how the word so that the child can self- correct.