All about Spelling is an OG/Phonics approach to spelling.  The students are taught why and when to use certain spellings in words, by memorization of the rules that apply, and that helps to make them more confident spellers.  Any time they do not know the spelling of a word (which they have already learned) the student has been taught which questions to ask/answer himself, to produce the correct rule and remember the correct spelling.

 

All About Spelling has 7 levels.  They recommend that all students begin in level 1, no matter their reading or spelling experience.  This has many benefits:

• Students & teachers learn to work the various parts of the program while on 'easy' words

  • Rule, sound & letter cards have particular call-and-responses which would be hard to learn while also learning new spelling concepts

• Level 1 begins with many rules that will be new to students who have not studies phonics.  Some, but not all, rules will be reviewed at the beginning of level 2.

• Moving quickly through easy material builds confidence

• You keep and re-use all parts of this curriculum, so you'll use level 1 later for your other kids later, anyway

• Because of it's re-usable design, AAS tends to hold it's re-sale value!

 

After going through levels 1&2, I think you *could* start with Level 2, but absolutely no higher.  You will miss several rules from Level 1, and they may-or-may-not be simple enough for you to pick up and explain on the fly.  All levels available through Rainbow Resource.

 

AAS parts include:

• Teacher's Guide

• 4 decks of flash cards:

  • Yellow Letter Cards

  • Red Sound Cards

  • Blue Rule Cards

  • Green Word Cards

• Magnetic Tiles (same set as AAR)

• Storage box & tabbed dividers (worth the $10 to get these!)

 

Each level will come with another small set of labeling tiles that are used within that level.  If you bought the original letter set, you will have lots of extra magnet-backs left over.  Keep them for the new tiles!

 

Each level of AAS has the same basic format:

Teacher has a preview of what the lesson will teach that day.  You'll get extra details and how today's lesson related to past and future lessons, so you'll be ready in case of extra questions, and you'll be able to tie things together as you teach.

 

You'll start each lesson by reviewing the decks of cards.  I prefer to review them in this order:

• Blue Rule Cards - call and response with either a fill-in-the-blank, or Q/A.  I like these first since they are the 'big picture' of spelling, and help the student's mind to focus on spelling

• Red Sound Cards - these are the reverse of the letter cards, below.  The teacher says the sound, and the student writes or says the correct letter.  This teaches focused listening, which is a very valuable skill when hearing a word and trying to spell it.  I like this one to be reviewed second, since I'm saying all the sounds that the student will soon be asked to say on their own.  Nice preview!  Students can say the letter, but it's preferred that they write it.  Writing in sand, salt, shaving cream, etc, makes this a fun review 'game' and not at ALL like handwriting.  There are several suggestions of this type at the beginning of level 1.

• Yellow Letter Cards - now you show the student the letter card, and they will say all the sounds that each letter can make.  Most consonants have 1-2 sounds, most vowels actually have 3-4 sounds!  That's very different than the 'long or short' that many of us learned!  For example, the letter 'A' says, "short a (hat), long a (hate) and 'ah' (car).  In level 1, they assign only 4 letters per lesson - and you spend as long as your student needs - to learn all the sounds of all the letters.  This prevents a lot of confusion when the student begins to spell more complicated words where the vowels aren't just 'long or short'.  A free APP is available from AAS that allows the student to click the letter and hear the correct sounds, in the correct order.  This is very helpful, and opens this program us to ESL families, who may need tutoring in correct pronounciation.

• Green Word Cards - now that the student has remembered all the rules, letters and sounds that he has learned, you'll pick 10 random spelling word cards for a quick review.

 

All cards can be "current", "future lessons" or "mastered".  Ideally, after reviewing your "current" set over the course of a few lessons, you'll be able to move cards to the "mastered" tab.  Mastered cards get reviewed every 8-10 lessons or so, to make sure they aren't slipping away!  

 

The lesson typically happens at the magnet board, with you setting up a word, and explaining any new rule, sound or concept.  You and your student work together to build several words on the board.  This kinesthetic approach is favored by some, and disliked by others.  Personally, I find that my daughter understands and can apply the concepts using only about half the amount of practice that the teacher's book offers.  So that's all we do at the board!  The lessons are designed to be repeated as many times as necessary until your student has a good understanding, OR to move quickly if they are excelling.

 

Students are then given the new spelling words.  They are directed to construct them on the magnet board, however we prefer to write them on paper.  Again, use your own discresion about which way would most benefit your student.

 

After the spelling words are some dictation phrases and sentances.  This portion is of paramount importance, as the phrases and sentances are all made up of review concepts.  The student gets to practice combining new and old rules, so none are forgotten, and has the satisfaction of actually writing something!!  Some may choose to use this time as handwriting practice, but I advise against that.  Many studies have shown that students can only focus on improving 1 aspect of writing at a time - either structure (capitals, punctuation), neatness or spelling.  Adults have learned to think of all 3 at once, since we have had so much practice, but these things are all difficult for students.  Unless the work is so bad that I cannot read it, I do not correct for general sloppiness.

 

At the end of the lesson, you can choose whether to repeat the lesson the next day, or to move on.  If you move on, your student can place a sticker on the lesson chart that is included.  They also include a Certificate of Completion for the end of each level!