Separate spelling?

[Kleine Hexe]

The AAS thread got me wondering if I should start a separate spelling program.

I'm doing Hooked on Phonics with my boys. Level 1 for my 5 yr old and level 2 with my 8 yr old. We also do ETC...5 yr old is in book C and 8 yr old in book 3.

At this point should I add a spelling program?

I don't want to overwhelm them. Yet, my 8 yr old will ask my how to spell a word, and shake his head saying spelling makes no sense. So maybe I could start with him at least?

If I do start I like programs that spell everything out for me. The less planning I have to do the better. It's too hard to try and plan lessons right now.

Opinions?

[Mandy]

Personally, I did phonics, Hooked on Phonics actually, and spelling. We used, and still use, AAS. It is a great program and supports the concepts learned in HOP well.

Also, after some initial cutting out of cards/tiles at the beginning of a grade level, there is no planning required in AAS.

Mandy

[mamaof2andtwins]

I have not started a spelling program until we finish the phonics program or complete 2nd-3rd grade.

Jennie

[MerryAtHope]

Your 8 yo sounds ready to start. And AAS doesn't take a lot of time--we set the timer for 15 minutes, and just pick up wherever we leave off the next day. AAS will answer those questions from your son about wanting spelling to make sense!

Merry :-)

[ElizabethB]

I taught my daughter spelling along with phonics in K. She had learned a bit of phonics already, then I switched to Webster's Speller. Learning the spelling at the same time as the phonics really made the phonics stick in her brain and made her learn things much better and much faster. The syllables were also helpful to her.

If you learn something so well you can spell it, it's hard to forget it!

My daughter was writing well, but you can do oral spelling or "written" spelling with magnetic letters or the AAS spelling tiles for a young student who is not writing well.

[Veritaserum]

I've started AAS level 1 with my first-grader. She's in ETC book 1. AAS is really helping her reading, which makes me want to start AAS with my 4.5-year-old once my 6-yo is finished with it. My 8-yo is doing AAS as well. I did level 1 with her and she moved through it quickly. Now we're about halfway done with level 2 (after 3-4 weeks, maybe).

[DinoMom]

the more i read in this forum, the more I felt that I should switch from SWR to AAS.
I am not starting with SWR yet, because it seems so difficult to kickstart and so much time is spent on reading the manuals. Anyone out there mind to compare between SWR and AAS?

[DinoMom]

oh I've found another thread which deals with SWR vs AAS here (http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86307)