I’m still looking for a spelling product for ds9 (4th grade). I saw a link for this product which is supposed to be similar to MUS, but its website was no help. There were no samples, no placement test, no pricing info. Does anyone know anything about this?
(We don’t use MUS, so I can’t compare it that way).
If you are in a need for a spelling curricula now Reading Lessons Through Literature is a good one. I’ve been using it for the past 4 months with my 9yr., 11yr., 12, and 13yr. old boys and am seeing improvemnet. It’s really inexpensive and easy to use. http://www.barefootmeandering.com/rltl.html
This is not about Spelling You See — but it does relate to spelling and might help you! I, too, am using Reading Lessons Through Literature by barefootmeandering (DS6.5 and DD4) Yes, this is a “reading program”…but the way the spelling is built right in makes it a strong spelling program also. It presents spelling guidelines and has structured the spelling lists in such a way that the “rules” just seem easier to embrace than in any other program I’ve tried. Very reasonably priced, and if you wanted to leave out the reading lesson component and just focus on spelling, this would be very easy to accomplish.
The sample on the Barefoot Meanderings site didn’t give a sample lesson page. We used AAS Level 1, so he knows his phonograms. A repeat of Level 1 would only bore him, I think. What does Level 3 look like?
We’re currently using word lists from the Zaner Bloser Spelling program, early 4th grade level. We’ve only been through two lists and he missed 13 of the 20 words.
I only own level 1 and 2. If you go to LuLu you should be able to see thorough lesson samples. (having said this I don’t know off the top of my head whether the Lulu samples show the spelling lists) So…another thing to keep in mind is that the beauty of this program (IMO) is that the spelling lists (even from level 1) are structured to combine all uses of the phonograms. All of the other programs I used had spelling lists one week for “short a”…cat, map, glad, etc., next week for short e, next week for blends. So predictable and so boring. I have no idea whether this is unique to barefoot but in this program the author has structured the spelling lists so that in ONE week the child has words that combine all the sounds of one phonogram. For example, week 3, level one has the three sounds of “a” all mixed together. I liked that, and it’s definitely what my kids needed.
I just started RLtL level 1 this week with ds7, and we have also completed AAS 1. I joined the barefoot ragamuffins yahoo group and asked for recommendations on what level to start with. Someone had compared the spelling lists from AAS and RLtL and recommended starting with level 1 unless you had completed the first three levels of AAS. All 75 phonograms are taught in the first level of RLtL, whereas in AAS they are spread out over several levels. Also, some spelling rules will be encountered much earlier in RLtL. Here is a link to the sample lessons http://www.lulu.com/shop/kathy-jo-devore/samples-reading-lessons-through-literature-levels-1-2-and-3/ebook/product-21403472.html I agree with Angelina about the spelling lists being less monotonous. That was something I didn’t like about AAS. There was a lot of review, but it only seemed to really help him learn the words on the list, not the actual rule. From what I can tell, RLtL will not have the same problem. Good luck!
I can see why, on the RLtL they said this about starting at level 1. That is completely accurate. We too, did AAR level 1 and still found it best to enter RLtL with level 1 (for DS6.5) because of the way the spelling lists are made up. FWIW, I think the way the lists on RLtL are exactly the way spelling words should be organized! This structure is training the child – right from the earliest attempts at spelling – to be thinking about all the spelling options a word could have. HTH! Angie
My children completed AAS levels 1-3 and I started them at the beginning of RLTL and my kids are much older ages 9 and up. I love that this program doesn’t have a lot of componants. It’s easy to get started. I only have levels 1 and 2 right now. The only thing I don’t like is I don’t see the spelling rules scheduled. There is a list of all the spelling rules but I’d like a reminder to go over them. BUT with that said the spelling rules might be too much for younger students. I know it was fo rmy boys. I do plan to start introducing them. I have SWR spelling rule cards that I’ll use (not that you need flashcards because everything is in the RLTL books).
In my first post I said I was using RLTL for 4 months, I’m sorry I meant to say 4 weeks. I’m going on our 5th week.
It takes me about 30 minutes to complete a lesson.
I am also having my 12 and 13 year old boys go at an advanced pace. My main reason with using RLTL if to get my boys to be better readers. They can’t spell either so this is improving spelling as well. I am moving through the list a fast but reviewing the spellig words that they miss too.
How writing intensive are either of these programs? My son does better orally, as handwriting is still a struggle for him. I’m not opposed to some writing, just that it not be the primary component.
Also, is RLTL available in print format as well as ebook? If I have to print it out, I’d rather have a book.
I’ll be posting about Spelling You See at least 3 times a day while reviewing it.
RLTL is available in print format at Amazon and Lulu. I have purchase some in print and some in pdf. I prefer print just because I don’t have a Kindle or any other nice electronic device, only my computer and I print everything. With that said I do like the pdf so I can print the list and mark them up.
All the workbooks for RLTL are in pdf formatt only.
RLTL, the only writing they are doing is writing the phonograms. While teaching the phonograms you can teach letter formation, print or cursive.
With Spelling You See each level has some writing. I am using Writing Tales level 3 which includes copywork and dictation. I also have level A. Level A I haven’t really looked at yet, I recv. it only yesterday. I am not allowed to give a review just yet but I can blog a little about it. I’ll take a look at the first level this weekend and let you know how much writing is involved.
One more thing about the spelling rules, I wanted to clarify. They are included as you go for instance with the ‘e’, you will say for the word five, the vowel says its name because of the e and English words don’t end in v. So the spelling rules are introduces and the child will hear them through out the list. My children are older so I want to review them more often like we do the phonograms.
Another example: In level 2 when you come to the word lying, you will say, “To add suffix ing, drop the final e from the base word and chang the i to y, Enlgish words do not have two letters i in a row.
I think there is always going to be some exception. With skiing I would probably explain to my kids that the word comes from skith a Norwegian, from Old Norse. I also let them know that our English words come from many different languages.