lindsey Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Exploring my options. We have AAS 1 and 2 and we're skimming through those just to learn the system (as is recommended), to catch up to the level he should be on. The tiles are a pain (although that'd be better if we had a magnetic board, I guess), and my son would rather just write things out. He's 8 and a fairly good reader and should be in AAS 3 I'm assuming. I'm just not sure I want to buy book 3 at this point. I've read about going without tiles, and that sounds like a good deal for us, but I'm just wondering if there's anything else we should consider before buying book 3. I'll have 3rd, 1st, 4yo, and 2yo this summer, is there anything you'd recommend for spelling that requires a little less parental involvement, for a natural speller and good writer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 (edited) . Edited Saturday at 04:18 PM by SilverMoon 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My4arrows Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 I would agree with the Rod and Staff as well as ignoring the word lists. My DS flew through AAS and completed level 3. He didn't like the tiles either and it was too easy for him. I dropped that and picked up the R&S (Grade 3, but he probably could have begun at Grade 4 after AAS 3) and the word lists were no problem for him, but the exercises were great! Those slowed him down a bit and he was able to do them independently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dauphin Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Phonetic Zoo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammish Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 My DS is also a good natural speller, and Sequential Spelling is working wonderfully for us. From what I can tell it's quite different from AAS, in that it doesn't use phonograms. But it teaches a child to break down words into base words and build up from there, and to see the patterns of words. We do it orally, so it only take us 5 minutes. But if you wanted something for your child to do independently, and he's fine with writing all of the words, they make DVDs which he could use all by himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Targhee Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 My 3rd grader uses Sequential Spelling DVD format independently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mohsmom23 Posted February 15, 2016 Share Posted February 15, 2016 Agreeing with those that said Rod & Staff. We've used levels 2nd-6th, and my kids do them completely independently except for the test. It works great for my natural speller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindsey Posted February 16, 2016 Author Share Posted February 16, 2016 Thank you, everyone! I'm looking at R&S. Do I need both books? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted February 16, 2016 Share Posted February 16, 2016 Thank you, everyone! I'm looking at R&S. Do I need both books? You don't *need* the TM, but considering how inexpensive it is you will appreciate having it. It makes grading a cinch, you can help without having to grab the student book, and there are test sentences prepared for you. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
My4arrows Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 For the 3rd grade one I didn't buy the TM. It's easy enough to grade without it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted February 17, 2016 Share Posted February 17, 2016 My DS is also a good natural speller, and Sequential Spelling is working wonderfully for us. From what I can tell it's quite different from AAS, in that it doesn't use phonograms. But it teaches a child to break down words into base words and build up from there, and to see the patterns of words. We do it orally, so it only take us 5 minutes. But if you wanted something for your child to do independently, and he's fine with writing all of the words, they make DVDs which he could use all by himself. Eldest has been using the level 2 DVD and have mostly been good with it. (He didn't like I think it was lesson 130 to 138) He has no desire to change to a different program, so we will be buying DVD 3. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TriciaT Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 Spelling you see is also independent except for the dictation on Fridays. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chilliepepper Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 I'm in somewhat the same boat as OP, except that my kid isn't a natural speller. We're working through AAS 2 (he's in third grade), and it's super easy for him but I'm staying with it, going through every lesson because his spelling is so bad and I want to be thorough. I've also considered switching to something less teacher intensive...for those who recommended Rod and Staff, would you recommend it as highly for a NOT natural speller as you do for a natural speller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smiles Posted February 18, 2016 Share Posted February 18, 2016 My ds did Rod and Staff last year and he started to cry every time I pulled out the rod and staff spelling book! I liked it ok but for him it was hard and he is not a natural speller. We are working through AAS 2 right now and will go into 3 soon. He is doing much better, no more crying! I think it really just depends on the child! I don't feel like it is really that time consuming. My son doesn't like the letter tiles he thinks they take too long but I have found it helps him to slow down and segment the words, before he was always leaving out a letter but he is starting to pick up on it a lot better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classically Minded Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 We did AAS up until Level 6 and got burnt out because it is so teacher-intensive but my dd also loved Spelling Workout and continued to do it alongside AAS. She now does it only and still loves it. I don't have to do anything but put the list on Spelling City and then she takes her pretest and test on there and grades her own workbook. Very easy and does the job! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h2bh Posted February 21, 2016 Share Posted February 21, 2016 My older two have used IEW's Phonetic Zoo with success. It is easy for them to get it done each day without me. While neither of them have ever loved spelling, neither have complained about this curriculum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindsey Posted February 22, 2016 Author Share Posted February 22, 2016 Thank you all! My phone won't let me sign in so I'm finally on a computer--I went ahead and bought the Rod & Staff books, so I'm excited for them to get here. :) Hopefully they work out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmarango Posted February 25, 2016 Share Posted February 25, 2016 We are doing AAS, and I found that what helps me is using Evernote to record the dictations for my daughter. That way she can work on her spelling while I am helping my son with his reading. The lessons in AAS don't take us very long on the day that we do them, and then the other days everything is pre-recorded for her. I'm not sure if that helps you at all, but it has made AAS manageable for us. Oh, I also ask her if she would just like to write the word out on a dry erase board or use the tiles....most of the time now she just writes the word. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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