AAS question

[PeacefulChaos]

So I'm looking into the possibility of AAS for Astro for next year - he's doing Spelling Workout A right now and isn't doing all that awesome, and will probably be somewhere in B at the end of the year.

I don't know why, but I didn't realize AAS has levels... what level would we start with??? 1 because he's not a strong speller? (if that's still the case at the time) ????

Thanks!

[mommy5]

We are using it right now with both my 5 yr old and 7 yr old ... we are using Level 1. A lot of people on this forum told me to just start with level 1 which seemed like the right thing to do. We are almost done with Level 1 and will be moving on to Level 2. I like that it teaches the rule -- has plenty of practice and different types of practice, too.

[nukeswife]

Very few kids would start in anything but level 1, and usually if they don't they would only start in level 2. The levels for AAS are NOT grade levels. My oldest didn't start with AAS until late 5th grade and I still started him in level 1. Sure the words were easy, but he needed to fill the gaps by learning the rules.

[Esse Quam Videri]

:iagree:

 

AAS is mastery based, not grade based, and especially for your 6 year old I would recommend Level 1. We started Level 1 this year with our 8 and 6 year olds. They are moving through it at different speeds, and the 8 year old will likely get through 1, 2, and possibly 3 this year. I'm feeling like we've finally found a thorough, engaging, and easy to implement spelling program. We've used Spelling Workout, Rod and Staff, and also Heart of Dakota spelling lists... AAS is definitely more meaty then any of those. I highly recommend it!

[Esse Quam Videri]

PS, is there a reason you are waiting until next year? I wish we'd switched sooner!

[PeacefulChaos]

PS, is there a reason you are waiting until next year? I wish we'd switched sooner!

 

I've already spent so much on curriculum this year, and I just really don't have the budget for it right now. We're 9 weeks in and I'd rather just stick it out and see if we can make what we have work. :)

 

I was thinking it was probably Level 1 that we were going for! I just thought I'd heard people say that you could 'use it forever'... maybe they just meant because it isn't consumable (it's not, right?) as opposed to it's just one book until they are all done with spelling.

I'm only switching Astro. Link does well with SW so I'm just going to stick to that for him. Not sure what Pink will do yet - she still has a couple of years before we think about spelling for her. ;) :D

[Esse Quam Videri]

Ah, I understand that. I'm hoping to find AAR pre-1 used for my youngest, otherwise we'll be waiting until after Christmas...

[MerryAtHope]

Yes, start with Level 1. (When I started my kids, they were older & I thought we could at least start with 2--but then I realized they had some gaps from 1 and we went back to fill those in). The words are easy to start, but if kids don't know the concepts and that they can apply to longer and harder words, then they really need that L1 content. Occasionally an older student might start with 2 if he or she already knows all of the concepts from Level 1--here's an FAQ article that can help you decide. HTH! Merry :-)

[SnMomof7]

I would definitely start with level 1 - I even started my DH with level 1 remedially and he learned quite a few things he didn't understand about spelling phonetically before :).

[PeacefulChaos]

One more thing - on average, (and I know this may be impossible to answer) how long do you think each level lasts? I've already started looking a little at the budget for next year -- would Level 1 be sufficient for the year, do you think? (Or longer, even? I'm really totally clueless as to the scope of the program obviously :tongue_smilie: ) MY guess would be that Level 1 would probably be sufficient for him for AT LEAST one year if not more.... Or should I budget to buy 2 levels?

[lexi]

I think it depends on the child and his/her abilities. I have seen people talk about using more than one level in a year because their child moved through fairly quickly.

[MerryAtHope]

I think it depends on the child and his/her abilities. I have seen people talk about using more than one level in a year because their child moved through fairly quickly.

 

Yes, the first level can go very quickly for some students. I started when my kids were at the end of 3rd and 5th grades. We only needed a few weeks to cover most of the content from 1 (although my youngest needed much more time than that to master some of the additional phonogram sounds). My oldest then did 2 in 4.5 months and went on to do 3, while my youngest spent 7 months in Level 2.

 

I think to be safe I'd budget for 2 levels and then just take it at his pace and see how it goes. I've seen some beginners spend half a year or a full year on level 1 too, so it could last that long--it really does depend on the child's skills & knowledge level.

 

Merry :-)

[Kathryn]

I'd buy two levels to start. I planned on doing one level a year, but doing one lesson a week, that leaves quite a few weeks without anything.

[PeacefulChaos]

Thanks all!

I'll go ahead and budget for 2 levels, and if we end up not using it til the following year, no harm done! :) I actually think that will happen with some of the stuff I bought this year, which is a nice break in next year's budget. :D

[Esse Quam Videri]

I've read one or two people who took a year for Level 1, but it's honestly difficult to stretch it out that far. My DS is 6, reads at about a third grade level but hates to write, and has never done formal spelling or in depth phonics. We are already on Step 9 of 24 six weeks in. DD is 8 and was a very early reader, can memorize any spelling list after day 1 but struggles horribly with spelling in her own writing. She is not phonetic at all, and has already learned a whole lot from Level 1, but she is going through it almost 1 step per day (and we are using the tiles).

 

I hope that gives you some idea of how long the program takes. I would budget for at least 2 levels for the first year, and look for them used.

Edited September 23, 2012 by mofbethany

[PeacefulChaos]

I've read one or two people who took a year for Level 1, but it's honestly difficult to stretch it out that far. My DS is 6, reads at about a third grade level but hates to write, and has never done formal spelling or in depth phonics. We are already on Step 9 of 24 six weeks in. DD is 8 and was a very early reader, can memorize any spelling list after day 1 but struggles horribly with spelling in her own writing. She is not phonic at all, and has already learned a whole lot from Level 1, but she is going through it almost 1 step per day (and we are using the tiles).

 

I hope that gives you some idea of how long the program takes. I would budget for at least 2 levels for the first year, and look for them used.

 

Definitely. :) I usually budget for what they would cost from, like, Rainbow Resource and then go searching for them used in February/March. :D

I can't handle buying anything later than March, though. I'm weird like that. :tongue_smilie: I had to wait til we were finished with school last year to order our math for this year (switched programs and wanted to be 100% sure about the placement test and stuff) and it drove me nuts! :lol: