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I will have a 6 yr old in Beyond (right side only) this coming school year and I had a spelling question. I have been looking at and really like "Soaring with Spelling" and wondered if I used that program what would it replace in Beyond's spelling? Just the spelling list? Would he still need to do the copywork? I don't have the Beyond manual yet and I'm sure that would explain things to me more. I really liked how the Soaring with Spelling had dc match the definition to the word and lots of other activities. From what I've read in Spelling in Beyond, there is nothing like that...just studying the word from and index card and writing it. Is that correct?SWS has quite a bit of writing along with it so I want to make sure that ds will not be overwhelmed with copy work as well. Thank you.

If you chose to use Soaring with Spelling, it would take the place of the Beyond lists. I don't think it would take the place of the copywork, but I am not very familiar with that spelling program. When you saw it in your hands, you could probably make a better judgment depending on your goals for your homeschool. We did enjoy the lists in Beyond.

The copywork in Beyond is connected with the poem they study each week, and reinforces the poem, and the kids draw a picture to go with the poem and have that as a project they can display (or go into their notebook) at the end of each unit. So I would say the SWS would not replace that part. It would replace the spelling lists. One of the nice things about the way things are balanced in the guides is that it makes your day fairly short. Beyond takes us 1.5-2 hours to complete. Think about adding a spelling program that will take a lot of time, though it sounds like they are good activities those also sound a little heavy for the average Beyond student. In Bigger there are definitions and copywork in that way, though nothing like that in Beyond. A program can be "great" but if it bogs you down with work that your child is not ready for, then it's not for you.

Your understanding of what they do with the spelling words is mostly correct. One day they study and copy the words, two days you are supposed to "test" where you say each word, use it in a sentence, and they write it (with a fun kinesthetic way to practice words missed), and then one day they copy sentences with some of the spelling words in them. My DD and I enjoy trying to create sentences with as many of the words in them as we can (then I write them down and she copies). So, spelling and meaning of the word are focussed on.

I hope this helps.

We've found the spelling in Beyond to be an excellent way to prepare for dictation, and dictation has been a successful way for dc to learn to spell accurately consistently within their own writing. The carryover is amazing!

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you everyone! I think I will probably end up using just the spelling lists in Beyond

My daughter is currently doing the Spelling in Beyond. During the first 14 weeks I did not do the spelling list provided, instead I did All About Spelling. While AAS is a great program and it teaches the "why" behind the spelling words it was taking 30 additional minutes to do spelling. I decided to drop the extra spelling program and try the lists in Beyond. I wanted to see if she could learn to spell just as well without the "why" behind the spelling. Not only is she learning to spell words, she is excelling. She gets an A every week on her spelling test with only about 5-10 minutes of practice a day based on what the recommendations are for that day. I won't be going back to AAS or an additional program, it's not necessary!

Thank you so much deut6famiy! That is so good to hear

After using HODs spelling from the beginning I can tell you that it works. My oldest competed in a spelling bee last year... 4th grade is the earliest you can do it here, don't know about everywhere else.... she finised 4th out of 20 kids ranging from 4th through 8th grade.

These things are very encouraging to read. I have been praying - and I mean praying - about what to do about spelling. My oldest has mild dyslexia and has STRUGGLED with spelling. She couldn't even spell simple things, like lamp, without getting it wrong. Very bad - yes. So I started using AAS last year. Well, this year I was looking through the dictation and I am so tempted to switch! I won't do both. Both teach things very differently. And since I have been using AAS, I am having my youngers use it too. They like it well enough. But they have never really "struggled" with spelling at all either. I think I am the only one struggling (with decisions now) if you know what I mean LOL. Does anyone have a child that is mildly dyslexic at all. What have you done?

We started Beyond doing the spelling list, and I was very uncomfortable with it. I felt that just doing the list was lacking...like I needed to be doing more teaching. AAS definitely fits us, so we have replaced the spelling in Beyond with AAS and couldn't be happier. I think just do what your gut tells you!