Is All About Spelling overkill?

[MovingMomma]

DD1 just turned 6. She reads at a 4-6th grade level, has a good grasp of phonics, and grasps spelling rules quickly when they are presented. Her writing & spelling skills are not at the same level as her reading skills. :)

I'm trying to decide whether to use AAS or just go through the Phonic Pathways spelling "program." Any thoughts?

[Mommy22alyns]

Rebecca turned 6 in March and we're loving AAS. One word of warning though - you might end up zipping through the levels. We're almost done with Level 2 and that's only because I slowed down for a while and I spread things out. It takes us about 5 days to do one step, but one teaching for Becca to get the spelling rules and know how to spell every word.

I'm not familiar with the Phonics Pathways program, so I can't help in comparing the two.

[Quad Shot Academy]

I can't speak highly enough of AAS! I am using it with 2 kids so far. I started my son in 2nd grade and he has sped through the first 3 levels in 1.5 years. I started my daughter in 1st grade and she completed level 1 in about 6 months. She stalled out on level two, so I put it aside and will start it over this fall. It has an excellent review at the beginning of the books, so you can take a break in between them. I love having the dictation built into the program and they start creating original sentences in the 3rd book.

[HiddenJewel]

If her spelling skills are poor, AAS would not be overkill.

[jlovebaker]

Ok don't berate me ... but if your child is reading well above grade level, do you really want to bore her with spelling? Maybe vocab words instead .... but really - she'll probably pick it up naturally. And if all else fails, there's spellcheck. There are so many great things to learn - don't waste the time of a child who is far above grade level with things that us mere mortals must deal with. Let her go ... she'll pick so much up from reading. Just my two cents!

[HiddenJewel]

Ok don't berate me ... but if your child is reading well above grade level, do you really want to bore her with spelling? Maybe vocab words instead .... but really - she'll probably pick it up naturally. And if all else fails, there's spellcheck. There are so many great things to learn - don't waste the time of a child who is far above grade level with things that us mere mortals must deal with. Let her go ... she'll pick so much up from reading. Just my two cents!

That is the same attitude that the school had with my cousin and she is now in 7th grade and still spells atrociously. I told my dd12, who is not a strong speller, that knowing how to spell properly is one way that she can be above her peers when competing in the job market since bad spelling abounds. That made sense to her so she is putting the extra effort into spelling.

Spell check is not reliable for all cases of wrong spelling.

[Blessedfamily]

If her spelling skills are poor, AAS would not be overkill.

Do you mean the program is good for students who struggle with spelling, but not necessarily for naturally good spellers? I'm asking because I was looking at it for my dd, who is a very strong speller and needs little instruction.

I have bought her her own little reference book that covers the rules of spelling, and so far I just use lists from a 4th grade book.

[HiddenJewel]

Do you mean the program is good for students who struggle with spelling, but not necessarily for naturally good spellers? I'm asking because I was looking at it for my dd, who is a very strong speller and needs little instruction.

I have bought her her own little reference book that covers the rules of spelling, and so far I just use lists from a 4th grade book.

I have only used AAS with a non-reader and a 12yo who needed some gaps filled in. Steps 1-10 of Level one were great for my non-reader. Then it started moving too fast with the spelling rules and not enough phonogram work. I found it was too hard to adjust for use with my 12yo.

So I am now using Spell to Write and Read with three of my dc (5, 12, 14) and it is a very good fit. My dd14 is a very strong speller and reader but is still learning a lot.

So hopefully someone else has used it with a 4th grader who is a strong speller and can tell you if would be a good fit.

[jlovebaker]

was an atrocious speller. In that case, I'd definitely use some sort of spelling lessons. The poster did mention that her child was reading above grade level so she's probably not that bad. Be kind - it's just my opinion!

[lisabees]

My 10 year old is using AAS. He is an excellent reader and pretty good speller, but wanted to understand the rules. He goes to ps, so this was a summer thing. We tried Megawords, but wasn't a good fit.

I had AAS Level three only (that I found really cheap) and started with that - one lesson a day. I only use a white board with different colored markers. Once, I realized how incredible this program was, I ordered the first two levels! He LOVES AAS and is finally learning the rules he desperately wanted to know.

I also add words from Spelling Plus (match it up with what AAS) and do dictation using Spelling Wisdom.

Remember that you can adapt a program to make it fit your needs.

HTH!

Lisa

[blessedmom3]

My son will be 6 next month and he is reading at about 4-5 grade level . His spelling is at 2nd grade now .

We tried AAS but it is too slow and too many levels to buy ...you can accomplish the same with much less . We finished Phonics Pathways and are now at the end of phonics pyramids (written by the same author ) He loves the pyramids and is so proud he can read long words.

I bought the spelling rules cards from Spell Write Read and we are going through that along with Sequential Spelling . I write the list of the words (about 10 each time) on spellingcity.com and he types them in the computer . When he is done , he prints the report which I keep for our portfolio records . He loves to type in the computer instead of writing . This also allows him to learn typing .

If you don't have SS , you can find spelling lists for free on the internet . Or natural Speller would work also . Just study the words ,apply the phonics rules and let your child try it. Spellingcity has handwriting practice for the list you make and writing them helps . If she misses any word , give it to her again next day and next week....This works for us and is much cheaper than AAS .
(this helps me with spelling too--I am not native in English )

[HiddenJewel]

was an atrocious speller. In that case, I'd definitely use some sort of spelling lessons. The poster did mention that her child was reading above grade level so she's probably not that bad. Be kind - it's just my opinion!

What are you referring to to be kind? I don't remember any post saying the OP's child was an atrocious speller.

[zaichiki]

So I am now using Spell to Write and Read with three of my dc (5, 12, 14) and it is a very good fit. My dd14 is a very strong speller and reader but is still learning a lot.

Hidden Jewel,

Just out of curiosity -- I know nothing about Spell to Write and Read...

You said that your dd, who is a strong speller and strong reader, is learning alot from the program. If you don't mind my asking -- what do you mean by strong speller and strong reader? On or above grade level?
Do they make a Spell to Write and Read program at the high school level? What sorts of things would be included in that? (Vocabulary, etymology, literary analysis?) Or am I misunderstanding what the program teaches? And if you wouldn't mind a few extra details... What kinds of things is she learning from the program that she didn't know before?

I'm off to try to find more info about this program on-line.
:)

[HiddenJewel]

Hidden Jewel,

Just out of curiosity -- I know nothing about Spell to Write and Read...

You said that your dd, who is a strong speller and strong reader, is learning alot from the program. If you don't mind my asking -- what do you mean by strong speller and strong reader? On or above grade level?
Do they make a Spell to Write and Read program at the high school level? What sorts of things would be included in that? (Vocabulary, etymology, literary analysis?) Or am I misunderstanding what the program teaches? And if you wouldn't mind a few extra details... What kinds of things is she learning from the program that she didn't know before?

I'm off to try to find more info about this program on-line.
:)

I sent you a PM.