AAR without the readers?

[kesmom]

Is this idea completely crazy? We have a number of early readers already (and I especially love the Nora Gaydos collection) and access to many more at the library. I think the AAR readers look lovely, but I'm thinking about my budget and not certain the black + white books will interest my DS. The main thing about AAR that appeals to me is the student activities.

[newbieoftwo]

I think this question has been asked a few times on the board and the consensus is always to purchase the readers. I have used Levels Pre-1 and 1 and am now on Level 2 and don't think I could have done the program without the readers. The readers are phonics-controlled and only use words that the student has already been taught. This was a huge confidence builder for my DS.

 

My DS is usually a color child, but he loves that the readers are black and white. He makes up extra stories to go along with the pictures. However, he is less distracted with the black and white photos in the readers than he is in regular early readers that are very colorful.

 

IMO, AAR is best used as an entire program and you could probably find a program with student activities for much less that allows you to add readers to it.

[nukeswife]

I agree with the above poster. There are quite a few "lessons" in AAR that are simply: "read The Nap" or whatever story that is to be read after certain phonograms are introduced. The readers are set up so that only sounds the child has encountered in the previous lessons will be in them with the exception of a few higher level words that are to just be told to them so the story makes sense. If you're not going to buy the readers I think you'd be better off finding another program.

[kesmom]

Thanks! I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me to search for previous posts. (duh!)

 

I will confess that part of the reason I am skeptical is that we just finished up the Zigzag Zebra book in Pre-level and I really couldn't stand it. Would you say that these readers are better?

[Ewe Mama]

The odd numbered lessons are solely to read the selections from the AAR readers. Out of the 49 lessons in AAR 1, that would be almost half of the program that would be pointless. For the cost if AAR, I would either get the readers or skip it altogether and piece something else together using your preferred readers.

 

We have readers coming out of our ears, but we do enjoy the AAR books. :)

[SevenDaisies]

Thanks! I'm not sure why it didn't occur to me to search for previous posts. (duh!)

 

I will confess that part of the reason I am skeptical is that we just finished up the Zigzag Zebra book in Pre-level and I really couldn't stand it. Would you say that these readers are better?

 

Yes, IMHO, the books are much better in level 1 and level 2, but they are used as readers and not read-alouds. The pre level 1 books are not as integral to the program as the readers are in levels 1 and 2. I could definitely see getting through pre level 1 without them, but not levels 1 and 2.

[LynnG in Arizona]

Yes, IMHO, the books are much better in level 1 and level 2, but they are used as readers and not read-alouds. The pre level 1 books are not as integral to the program as the readers are in levels 1 and 2. I could definitely see getting through pre level 1 without them, but not levels 1 and 2.

 

 

I agree completely! (have used Pre-1 and 1 in their entirety; working on level 2 now)

 

In a nutshell . . . go ahead and get the readers. They are high quality and integral to the program. :001_smile:

[taffnus]

Oh my.....should I really go against the flow????? :bored: My dd9 is in AAS5. DD6 is doing AAR/AAS1. We have all the readers and I really do believe we could do without them. I REALLY like having leveled readers but I have the Sonlight "I Can Read It" series that I used for dd9 and my dd6 is reading them too. No, they're not wonderful but they're much better than library readers for beginning readers (IMHO). The AAR readers are extremely expensive and the stories are nice but still very early-reader-like. Yes, they support the lessons but there's lots of reading practice in the drill sheets (if your child will do them).

 

If the books (new) aren't in your budget, I'd look for used ones. If you can't find them, I certainly wouldn't scrap the entire program but would get some cheaper leveled readers for reading practice. The program is MUCH more than the readers.