SCM Discussion Forum

1. 

   my3boys
   Member

   I purchased the Basic Kit but for some reason did not realize I needed the workbooks/teacher's guides as well.  I browsed that site for several days and it just didn't dawn on me.  Well, now that I need them which level should I purchase??  I have a semi-struggling 12yo, 9yo (who seems to be doing pretty well with just copywork and transitioning to dictation) and a 6yo who may be like either sibling.  I checked out the levels but I'm just unsure what to purchase. 

   BTW, we are  still using Spelling Wisdom, which I think is great, but needed something else for my oldest to really feel as if he's having a "lesson". 

   I plan to phone the company on Tuesday, but thought I'd ask here for some advice first.

   Thanks in advance.

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
2. 

   Misty
   Member

   I also have a almost 12 yr ds who can spell basic words but not when you get up there or add confusing parts.  I talked with the company and they said it may be overkill but start at level 1 because : #1 it will build confidence & #2 you will make sure you're not missing anything that will be covered in later lessons.  Now he did say a couple things; you could start with level 2 but if he doesn't know things then you'll have to back track and depending on the child this will feel like he's/she's failing.  Also, if you miss something it will come back later to bite you.

   I needed my son to feel like he was winning the spelling battle and decided that the money would be worth it.  I also have children who if I loved it could use it.  I also didn't want to skip anything cause I am not a good speller myself and needed this child (has low self esteem) to feel like he was makiing huge progress.

   I bought level 1 and 2 at the same time, with the knowledge if I didn't like it and didn't open level 2 I could return it.  I am LOVING it.  My son is feeling so good as he does 3 or more lessons a day.  You are now wondering if he would have missed something and was it worth it.  YES he would have missed the idea's on what each sound made as you have to have them tell you every letter sounds; so the "O" says, short o, long o, oo as in to, and short u as in oven.  That is one he didn't get right away and only about 3 others.  Otherwise he's flying along.  I am totally in love with this program.  He is loving it also,  No more battles, or feeling like he can't spell.  No more competition as he flies throug his spelling words each day. 

   Only 25 lessons in the level 1 book and we are over 1/2 way through and will be moving on next month to level 2.  I don't regret buying level 1 and will use it for the rest of my children.  My 1st and 3rd born are over achievers, they can memorize something by looking at it, they are prefectionists.  (they take after there dad!)  I like the way this program teaches spelling, lays it out, uses different senses, and is supper frinedly.

   So I don't know where your child is at but I really think the way it's presented if you can start at level 1 do 2 lessons or more a day and then buy level 2.  Maybe you can find it used somewhere (I haven't been that lucky)?

   Good luck I know your child (sorry you didn't mention boy/girl) will do great as I have tried many things with mine and he's feeling great about this one.  On top of the world.  He also feels good about getting so many lessons done in a day.  Misty

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
3. 

   Jennifer
   Member

   We use AAS and really like it.  I had the money at the time to buy levels 1-4.  Obviously this may not be possible for everyone, but I'll tell you how it's working for us.  My ds9 is the primary target for this purchase, but I decided to have ds11 go through it, too.  I started him at level one and while he did zoom through it, I found several definite gaps and realized that some very simple rules in level one will help them both with their spelling.  For example, learning the 'floss' rule.  My ds11 loves this one.  If you don't know the 'floss' rule, it teaches that the letters f, l, and s are doubled at the end of a short vowel, one syllable word.  The word floss obviously has the letters f, l, and s and well as follows the rule.  Ds 11 thought that so clever and won't be forgetting it soon.  It really only took him 3 weeks or so to cover book one, but for us it was worth it.  I feel like we filled in the gaps, and he isn't even really spelling challenged.  Ds9, who IS spelling challenged, is going to get SO much out of this program.  I feel sometimes I spend money on curriculum only to be disappointed.  Not so with All About Spelling.  It was a sound investment for my children.

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
4. 

   Misty
   Member

   Must have been writing at the same time.  totally agree with above comments

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
5. 

   crazy4boys
   Member

   I echo the above comments.  We chose to start in Level 1 as well (I think they were 9 at the time?).  One of my boys flew through it and is halfway through Level 3 now.  The second boy took a long time for Level 1, but that's what he needed.  He's halfway through Level 2 now (language is much harder for him).  I think it vital that they get the sound foundation of Level 1 - learning the "rules" helps so much in figuring out how things are spelled (and how to read them).  I also had 2 other boys coming up and knew that I could use the program with them.  I now have Boy 3 halfway through Level 1.  It was a purchase that has helped each of them with their individual needs.

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
6. 

   my3boys
   Member

   Thanks ladies....I will purchase level 1 and 2, maybe 3 and 4, if I can.

   One question:  Did any of you just know that a child would have more letter/word/sound problems when they were younger??  Don't know if this would've helped but I always wonder: my oldest did not do copywork from the beginning (my 9yo has since almost the beginning) and was not read to like my 9yo has been.  My 12yo has eyesight issues (not horrible, but enough to possibly cause a problem) and he's just not quite as interested in the written word as my 9yo.  Now, he does read alot (has multiple books going right now) but doesn't seem to have the memory for "words/letters/sounds" as my 9yo.  But, if we're talking math or body mechanics, his memory/skills are much better than my 9yo.  Does that make sense??  Do any of you think we may have had a different experience had we used copywork from the beginning (he really didn't write much or use good literature)???  Or am I dreaming and it's just him.

   Thanks for the help.

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
7. 

   4myboys
   Member

   I am also curious about this.  I have a friend whoes child is nearly finished with level one, so I will be borrowing it from her for our oldest in a month or two.  She has borrowed level 2 and 3 from yet another friend and we will just continue to share them.  Our children are spaced out nicely for this to work.

   My younger son is a natural speller and I think dictation will work well for him.  He already spells well beyond grade level.  However, I plan to give my older the opportunity to try copywork/dictation in the next couple of months -- we are just starting our HSing, so I'm not rushing into spelling knowing how much he hates it.

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post
8. 

   Jennifer
   Member

   I knew my ds9 would have trouble with anything verbal from about the age of three.  He was a VERY late talker, and was VERY difficult for anyone to understand until about 5 years old, and even then it wasn't necessarily easy.  He is an entirely 'normal' boy in all except language skills.  After my ds11, who learned to read and write SO easily, ds9 was difficult.  It took him longer to learn to read, although now he's read all the Narnia books, some more than once, as well as lots of other difficult books.  I do know for certain that he is not getting all of the words, but he LOVES to read now and so I let him go.  When he reads aloud to me I help correct him and try to make him slow down so he doesn't blow like a freight train through every word that is difficult.  Yet, he can tell me all about the story and enjoys it, so those big words must not be that important!    All this to say that ds9 has done oral narration and copywork from the beginning.  He still has trouble articulating long words.  And he still has a difficult time singing if he has to read the words because he simply can't get them out that fast in song form.  He gets left in the dust.  And yes, his spelling is atrocious.  BUT, it's better than it was a week or so ago.  And it's MUCH better than it was a even a month or two ago.  He IS getting better.  He absolutely NEEDED All About Spelling and I'm so happy we found it reading on this site.  I think this is going to be a really important school year for him.

   Posted 1 year ago # Report Post

RSS feed for this topic

Reply

You must log in to post.