All About Spelling Users

[Guest]

I am looking at this for my older two who spelling is...well, terrible is the kindest way to say it. Have you had success using it with older (11 and 9yrs) kids?

How does one use it to teach a child to read? Forgive my ignorance as I haven't taught a child to read yet. My 3yr old, soon to be 4, is ready, though.

Do you like it? I guess I need a real world review.

I am terrible at phrasing my questions past 10pm.

[susie in tx]

I'm using this with my 9 yo. We started at the beginning. There were weeks when we went through 3 or 4 steps in one week. If your student had some knowledge of spelling rules, you *might* be able to start with Level 2. The first lessons reviews most, if not all, of the first Level.

 

I am also using this to teach my 6 yo to read. The child is to use the first 26 phonograms in the first Level. Since the child is not taught about "silent e" or other consonant and/or vowel blends, it's hard to move into more difficult books for practice reading. My dd is near the end of Level 1. I plan to teach her the remaining phonograms before we move forward to Level 2. Then, she can work on reading more beginning readers, while still learning the spelling rules a la AAS.

 

I hope this makes sense. I'm on the computer after 10 p.m. as well, and I don't feel like I'm as clear as I would like to be.

[8filltheheart]

Have you considered Apples and Pears? I am using it for my remedial speller (6th grader spelling on about a 2nd-3rd grade level and my 3rd grader does it with him.) I have found it has improved his spelling dramatically. (there are placement tests and the entire course is viewable online)

 

http://www.soundfoundationsbooks.co.uk/

 

I personally think AAS is below average for spelling words if you correspond level with grade. It moves incredibly slowly. I also wouldn't use it to teach reading for the same reason. Reading usually moves at a much quicker pace than spelling. (for example, my kids might be reading words with the /or/, /ai/, etc but still only spelling cvc words.

 

I own levels 1 and 2 of AAS and will probably use it for spelling for my younger two.

[Guest]

Apples and Pears is what I have now. It makes ZERO sense to me and my kids how it teaches spelling. Do you know how to contact them? They don't seem to have an email address (I tried the one on the print out order form. It came back as undeliverable.) and the only phone number is UK.

[mom2abcd]

Apples and Pears is what I have now. It makes ZERO sense to me and my kids how it teaches spelling. Do you know how to contact them? They don't seem to have an email address (I tried the one on the print out order form. It came back as undeliverable.) and the only phone number is UK.

 

Does Apples & Pears use the O-G approach? Can it be done independently?

[ElizabethB]

If you and your 9 and 11 year old watch my spelling lessons, that should be a good start for spelling, and it will teach you all you need to know to teach someone to read. (If that moves too fast, my phonics lessons also teach everything in the spelling lessons, but at a slower pace.)

 

http://www.thephonicspage.org/On%20Spelling/spellinglessonsl.html

 

Using AAS (or any other spelling or phonics program) should be much easier after watching them.

 

If you search for All About Spelling, you should be able to find some good threads. Everyone seems to really like it, and from what I've seen of the samples online, it's a good solid program that is very user friendly, albeit a bit expensive.

Edited February 13, 2009 by ElizabethB

[mamaof2andtwins]

My 9 yo twins use AAS. I am also considering taking my nearly 15 yo son for a run though it as he really struggles with spelling.

 

My children were all reading by the time we started AAS. We used R&S readers and Phonics Pathways to teach reading.

 

Jennie

[wenn]

I just finished level 1 with my 15yo, I wanted to make sure he didn't have any gaps, we flew first the first half and moved fairly quick through the second. I did make up sentences for the dictation instead of using phrases. We found a couple things he needed to work on so I'm glad I didn't skip level 1.

 

There is a new message board for AAS you might want to look at

http://www.thechatterbee.com/forum

[siloam]

Yes there are some who are using it to teach reading, and I am using it to reinforce reading and work on fluency.

 

The first few steps work on phonological awareness and learning the phonograms, so a child doesn't need to know all the letter sounds till step 6. Even then they don't have to know the multi-sound vowels till much later as they will be introduced on at a time and only the first two sounds of vowel (long and short) are covered in AAS level 1. They also have a few simple games they sell geared towards young children.

 

Eventually there are plans for a Pre-book (before level 1) that will work on all the phonograms and readers. The first set of readers are due out by fall I think, but the rest will be a bit yet. I generally have my kids start saying the letter sounds while doing handwriting or use the Get Ready, Set, Go for the Code books (because I already own them). They learn the consonant sounds pretty quickly.

 

Heather

 

[mom2abcd]

I just finished level 1 with my 15yo, I wanted to make sure he didn't have any gaps, we flew first the first half and moved fairly quick through the second. I did make up sentences for the dictation instead of using phrases. We found a couple things he needed to work on so I'm glad I didn't skip level 1.

 

There is a new message board for AAS you might want to look at

http://www.thechatterbee.com/forum

 

How long did it take you to go through Level 1 with your 15 yo? He didn't feel like he was doing first grade work with that level?

[MerryAtHope]

Yes! In fact I started it last spring when my kids were 9 & 11. I am so pleased with their progress--their reading has improved (and both say reading is more fun now), they are spelling more words correctly in their writing (and though there are still mistakes, the mistakes are usually phonetically possible instead of decorating with vowels & other habits)--my oldest (son) says this is the most effective thing we've used for spelling. I blogged about it if you want to read more (and see pictures!). My son got the award for excellence in our homeschool spelling bee for the most improved speller this year, for spelling skills, speaking skills, and confidence. Just a year ago he was routinely spelling the word from, f-o-r-m. Last month he correctly sounded out emergency. He was as surprised as I was!

 

I hope you find what will help your children, I know what a struggle it can be, we tried so many things before finding AAS. Hang in there! Merry :-)

[wenn]

How long did it take you to go through Level 1 with your 15 yo? He didn't feel like he was doing first grade work with that level?

 

We took about 3 weeks to finish, he started having trouble with the I and E again so we spent a little extra time at that.

 

He did complain some that it was "little kid" stuff but I explained it was important to make sure that we found any gaps that were creating problems. When level 2 arrived he saw the Jail and groaned a bit but I told him he didn't have to use it, and the harder he worked the faster he could move on.

 

He doesn't spell with the tiles, I use them for demonstrating and we use them for practicing syllable division(he's reading level is higher than his spelling but still needs a lot of work).

 

Good luck deciding:)