Question about AAS

[thundersweet]

Just wondering what your experience has been using this program. Do you find the pace at which phonograms are introduced to be too slow? Just right? I was noticing for instance that the ir of first wasn't introduced until level 3. So words like bird or first wouldn't be taught until level 3?? That seems a tad slow to me. I am used to SWR that teaches them all from the start. Just wondering since I may use this with my ds when he starts K.

Thanks,
Sandy

[alilac]

We like the program. It may be that they're not introduced because it's a spelling program as opposed to a phonics program. They work on short, long, silent e, then syllables first. They get into a good portion of syllables before making some of the simpler words that contain the r blends. Also r blends can be confusing because some sound a like and it's confusing to read until you can you decifer the same sounds of different spellings. Some phonics programs introduce sounds and such in an order to make words and to make simple words first to get kids reading. So you'd learn cat, hat, hate. Spelling programs tend to go in an order that may be more condusive to just that, spelling and figuring out how and why they're spelled.

So this can be definitely used as a phonics program. I think they'll be coming out with readers. But every program has it's reasons and every program starts and moves on differently, introducing different sounds at different rates in different areas of the program. AAS is a program that is paced for your child. Go as fast or slow as needed. We whipped through level 1 in a month, because we've already done phonics work. Level two will take longer.

[arcara]

I understand what you're saying. Lots of people speed through level 1 and go relatively quickly through level 2, so it's not like your child will necessarily be in 3rd grade before learning 'ir' for instance.

My 1st grader completed a phonics/reading program (Sound Beginnings) last year that taught all the phonograms. So, it doesn't concern me. AAS is giving her thorough practice with them and really solidifying the rules. However, I do plan on completing Sound Beginnings with my younger ones (when they're the right age!) before starting AAS.

[MerryAtHope]

If you want to use it for both reading and spelling, you can move ahead and teach the phonograms for reading ahead of their spelling speed. A few ways to do this:

Get the phonogram CD so they can hear all the sounds
Get the full set of phonogram cards & teach them all for reading even if she isn't there in spelling yet
Work at two different places in the books--one place for reading, one place for spelling.

Any of these could work for moving ahead with reading. I didn't have this when I was teaching my kids to read, but when they read to me, if they didn't know a phonogram yet, I just gave them that sound while they were reading to me. They internalized a lot this way.

AAS is coming out with matching readers later this spring too.

Hope you find what works for you! Merry :-)

[thundersweet]

Thanks so much! I have some time to decide. It's just so hard!

Sandy