SCM Discussion Forum

1. 

   pangit
   Member

   Okay, I need some opinions.

   I was planning on buying All About Spelling for my dd.  She will be 2nd grade and 7/8 years old.  A big reason I was planning on buying it is because she struggles with visual dyslexia and therefore reading.  I thought that it would work her through the phonics rules again with helping her to spell the words, too.

   We have been working through the Progressive Phonics books this year.  She is currently in the Advanced book 5.  We have 4 weeks of school left for this year.  She will probably comlete book 6 maybe 7.

   I have looked at the price of getting started with AAS.  It is a big investment to begin with and well worth it if it is the program for you.

   My question is, would you buy AAS or would you just go back through the Progressive Phonics books and then do spelling through dictation later.  I like how AAS works with hands on figuring out how to make the words, but there are also so many rule breakers that I wonder if the Progressive Phonics and then dictation would be just as good.

   I will also be using the program (whichever way) with my younger dd.  She will be 5/6 next school year.  But, she is not having any struggles with scholastics at all.  In fact she has wanted to read (her favorite free time activity) and is reading on a 2nd grade level.  I have been having her go through the Progressive Phonics so she hears the rules, but she already knows most of the words.  She is in the Progressive Phonics book 6.

   Thanks for your input.

   Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
2. 

   pangit
   Member

   bump

   Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
3. 

   missceegee
   Member

   I am not familiar with Progressive Phonics at all, but we use and enjoy AAS. AAS is about $65 to get started, but it is 100% reusable. It includes some dictation, but silly little sentences using words that are in the program. I like how it teaches phonics rules, but that's me.

   Christie

   Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
4. 

   MamaSnow
   Member

   Here is a link to a question I asked about this a couple weeks ago, that might be helpful.  I was debating using AAS or trying to put something together on my own.  I think I have pretty much decided to use it with my dd next year (for 1st grade - she'll be 6).  She is reading pretty well, but we have learned how to read using a very hybrid approach (some phonics, some sight words, some word families), and I want to be able to go back through and fill in some of the gaps for her, because I think that phonics is a good "tool" for knowing how to approach unknown words (both in reading and spelling).  We will do dictation also when she is older, as I like the emphasis on spelling in context that that gives.   I was concerned about the cost also, but sounds like everyone who has used it would say that the cost is worth it.

   http://simplycharlottemason.com/scmforum/topic/have-you-used-all-about-spelling-or-anything-similar#post-36900

   Jen

   Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
5. 

   crazy4boys
   Member

   I've started Progressive Phonics with 3 of my four kids and ended up stopping after a few days/weeks/months with each of them.  I personally don't like the silly/twaddly stories and occasionally took issue with some of the drawings or storylines.  All 3 of the boys asked to stop because they thought it was boring or stupid.

   That being said, if it works for you, GREAT!  I don't feel that it teaches spelling or spelling rules adequately, however.  Isn't it just reading?  Maybe we didn't get far enough into it to know if it has spelling rules or not.  Dictation is fantastic, but knowing the rules and how to figure out which way to spell is so helpful.  AAS teaches things like, "always try the letter c first, if that won't work because of the rules you've already learned then try k."  While there are rule breakers (and they are taught as such) AAS tries to help you decode spelling.

   One of my sons really struggles with language so he needed something more concrete and systematic than dictation.  He's also highly hands-on and he did poorly when our reading/spelling programs where just reading from a book or computer screen.  The other two don't need it as much, but they do enjoy it and are becoming very proficient spellers.

   Heather

    

   Posted 2 years ago # Report Post
6. 

   suzukimom
   Member

   My kids loved the bit of Progressive Phonics we did.... but I quickly hated it.  The Twaddle Meter that Doug "designed" would have the needle firmly on the Total Twaddle side of things (Run Away) - and although I know that sometimes a bit of twaddle is common during the learn-to-read stage... I couldn't take it anymore.

   I had read "Dod the Dog" to my 2yo a couple of months ago, and she still asks me to read it to her... sigh.

   Posted 2 years ago # Report Post

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