tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533781749191216608.post3942584209829200493..comments2024-01-02T00:51:59.601-05:00Comments on Homeschool Days: Curriculum Changes...already???Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17955632440332747542noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533781749191216608.post-4063841199274517942011-08-14T21:48:45.623-04:002011-08-14T21:48:45.623-04:00About AAS in terms of "intensity" for th...About AAS in terms of "intensity" for the teacher, yes and no. Some people think it's "intense" because it does require direct instruction - it's not something the child can just go off and study herself. However, Marie Rippel states from the very beginning that lessons should be kept short each day - 15 to 20 minutes, max, per child, and I don't consider that to be overly intense. If you do that, one "step" in a book usually takes about a week (sometimes more, sometimes less because it is a mastery-type program, but that's okay because most of the books have only 28 "steps" so, if some take more than a week, it's still possible to finish a whole book in a year if that's a concern). So, anyway, given that I know it's time well-spent, it has not been hard at all to do the direct instruction (and I do it separately because I have one "good" speller and one who struggles). And it is a rather open-and-go program (after the initial learning curve of figuring out how it's set up, of course); I take about 5 minutes a night to review what we'll cover the next day and then I can follow the "script" for each lesson and it flows really smoothly once you get the hang of it. :^)Tina Hollenbeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13694089806217921117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533781749191216608.post-4293367623359984402011-08-14T17:20:16.529-04:002011-08-14T17:20:16.529-04:00Have you considered All About Spelling (http://all...Have you considered All About Spelling (http://allaboutlearningpress.net/go.php?id=134)? We have loved it - found it before we ever discovered MFW and stuck with it. It's been good for my girl who is a natural speller and a GOD-SEND for my girl who struggles.Tina Hollenbeckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13694089806217921117noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533781749191216608.post-55429939306619645212011-08-14T12:02:22.594-04:002011-08-14T12:02:22.594-04:00I totally understand what you're saying. I pla...I totally understand what you're saying. I placed and recieved my order from RR after I spent all summer researching and deciding. I even planned out the entire school year. Then this week changed my mind. I now have to return my order and wait for my refund. I am happy though. I feel peace. My husband said "You keep talking about returning it so you should do it already." Love when they have great advice:) Good Luck with your decision!April Khttp://www.aprilskelley.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1533781749191216608.post-41076896279137155622011-08-14T01:48:18.601-04:002011-08-14T01:48:18.601-04:00We have used Spelling By Sound And Structure now f...We have used Spelling By Sound And Structure now for two complete years (3rd & 4th grade for my oldest). This year we are using SBSAS for her for 5th grade and we will use SBSAS for my 2nd grader. One day I might consider Spelling Power, but I we like SBSAS and we are gonna stick with it. I do not do all the stuff in the Teacher's book. My kids just work through the workbook with our own little system of:<br /><br />Monday... read the word list (dog, d-o-g, dog)... handwriting practice using 1/4 of the words daily<br /><br />Tuesday... read the word list (dog, d-o-g, dog)... handwriting practice using 1/4 of the words daily... Do Part A<br /><br />Wednesday... read the word list (dog, d-o-g, dog)... handwriting practice using 1/4 of the words daily... Do Part B (2nd grade does only half this of it)<br /><br />Thursday... read the word list (dog, d-o-g, dog)... handwriting practice using 1/4 of the words daily... Do Part C (2nd grader does the 2nd half of Part B)... If necessary, pre-test<br /><br />Friday... TEST... write any misspelled words three times each... I also circle those words in THEIR workbook and add them to the bottom of the next lesson<br /><br />We love our SBSAS workbooks and they make my life easier!!<br /><br />littlethingstx.blogspot.comAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com