Someone suggested All About Spelling to me. I know nothing about it. I used Power Spelling (which many seem to hate) with my older guys and they liked it. I was told that's because they knew enough of the rules to use it. (?!?!?) I looked and I might be able to budget for it. (AAS) Someone else suggested Logic of English and I looked at the lowest level and I think my son(s) (5-6 almost 6-7) would hate it. We use MBTP and I don't like their spelling.
Tried Spelling Power. Didn't like it. As much as I like CLE for Reading, LA, and Math, I'm not crazy about their spelling that is in the LA lessons. My DGS needs more phonics than that. I've done Sequential Spelling with small groups with good results, but it's not so much fun to do with just one student, takes too long (for me) at the board for just one student, and there are no rules taught, just patterns. I've done the spelling from CLASS (Christian Liberty) and I like it pretty much, as it does rules and meaning, pretty much a "traditional" style lesson format, and it comes in a workbook. Not expensive. But I really don't like the 5th grade which is names of states and countries and not phonetic at all. Upper grades are more structure and Latin and Greek roots. Next year I'm going to try R&S Spelling by Sound and Structure for DGS, 4th grade. It does teach rules, meaning, and encourages cursive handwriting. Very traditional format, in a workbook, not expensive at all. Upper grades are more structure and Latin and Greek roots.
I use AAS. It is very thorough and a multi sensory program. I really like it but it is very teacher intensive. The program comes with tiles, which we used for the first level, some with the second and not at all with the third level. We just use a white board to write on and do the activities on. It has a lot of review with cards ( includes sounds/ phonograms, words, rules), so the kids practice them daily and when they master something you move it into the mastered section. You can use it to work better for you (it's easier for us to not use the tiles). When my son was done with the third level I moved him into Phonetic Zoo which is by IEW. I chose to do this because he wanted something more independent and it freed me up. He listens to the lessons on a CD and practices the words. It is not as thorough as AAS but I feel the first three levels built a good foundation for him. He likes it and it seems to be working. I will keep doing AAS with my daughter because she really likes the program and her favorite subject! Hope that helps some!
We aren't ready for cursive.................. (Still working on printing) I haven't done "Spelling" so far. We use Explode the Code and Hooked on Phonics for Phonics (along with Reading Eggs and StarFall) If I do AAS could I drop one of those? This next year I'll have 2 that will pretty much need me for for every lesson. I'm worried about burn out for me and them.
R&S doesn't insist on cursive, but at 4th grade level, it presents the list in cursive as well as print. They don't do spelling as such in first grade because it's included in their reading/phonics/handwriting program. They start with grade 2 which could probably be done by a bright first grader. I would think that if you did AAS you could probably drop SOMEthing, surely.
