How does AAS work with grade levels?

[praisefor3]

We only made it through Level 1 in 1st grade. I would like to take our time in 2nd grade and just go through Level 2. But I have read posts on here about people completing 1 & 2 while still in 1st grade. If we spend the entire year on level 2...would we be behind? Yes...I know...everyone should work at their own level and all that jazz...but, really, can the levels of AAS also work out to be grade levels and still be on average par with concepts for that grade?

[jen3kids]

I started AAS with my dd when she was in 3rd grade, I think. Before she went to school in 6th grade, she finished Level 5. So, she did 5 books in about 3.5 years.

 

My younger ds started AAS in Grade 2 and finished Level 5 at the end of Grade 5, so 5 books in 4 years.

 

I think it depends on how quickly your child can work through each book and still retain the info.

 

Overall, I'd say that yes, 1 level/year is fine. You might find that as your child is exposed to more reading and writing, they already know how to spell the words, but need to learn the 'rules', or how to apply them.

[ByGrace3]

I think it really depends on you and your child. Only getting through level 2 for 2nd grade when I think they could do more would be behind for me. We finished levels 1 through part of 3 for first grade. We will finish 3 and work through wherever we get in four for second. Around or after level 3/4 I think a year a level is more common.

[shernandez]

All About Learning Press has a forum...they answer questions like this all the time and quickly. I would post this question there. Personally, I do not think that one level/year would be behind, although I think it is more common to go through the lower levels a little quicker. If you have any non-homeschooling friends with students in the same grade, I would ask to view their spelling lists. My DD best friend is the same grade in a private school, and I always touch base with my friend to make sure that my dd is on the same level, if not above, what her dd is.

[SnMomof7]

We are 'slow goers' on AAS. We are finishing level 2, and DD is finishing 3rd grade :). I don't have a problem with that, and neither does my DD. Some people go more quickly, and that's okay too. Since it's a mastery-based program, I'm going to tell you what you already know ;) - just go at your child's pace!

[MerryAtHope]

Not at all! Level 7 takes kids up to high school level spelling, so if you do a level per year, you'll still end up ahead! And if someone starts behind and needs to do AAS remedially, they can still catch up.

 

Merry :-)

[Brooketopia]

I think you'd be fine with one level per year. We're just starting, so I have a 3rd grader in Level 1 right now...after the tear fest that was our last curriculum, I'm just glad for a spelling program that doesn't cause sobbing. We'll go as "slow" as she needs to go with AAS and it will all work out in the end. I'm liking how AAS doesn't make me feel like we have to complete a unit per week!

[happycc]

and my older ones are still stuck there. I have seen the spelling list they came back with and my kids always aced them. However they were never able to apply the spelling in their writing.

 

Anyways, the levels seem relatively grade level ish if not ahead in some ways.

I can only base on what we have done so far.

 

Level one -definitely grade one

Level 2-grades 1/2

Level 3-grades 3-5 even (One of my natural speller fifth grader is starting to need to do the dictation and spellng words midway in Level 3 when we started the suffixes section. My 3rd grader is starting to slow down here.)

Level 4-grades 3-5 (The words are starting to get harder for my 5th grader here-multisyllable words)

 

I have noticed my kids' historical narration writing has become more complex and sophisticated because they finally feel more confident in spelling words.