spelling ....need some advice

[snadig]

Well ladies I am back again with questions regarding spelling.

My son is doing AAS and it seems to be going alright. He seems to remember some of the rules, but forgets others. I asked him if he could spell the words off of list 2 unit 1 in Beyond yesterday. I thought he would have no problem, as he has had them before. But he seemed stumped. But when I showed him the list he could read all of them no problem. Why is that?

So today I decided to try the list with index cards and just see how it goes, he did pretty well and only missed 2. So I guess my question is knowing why you spell things a certain way helpful in the long run, or is just using the list the way to go.

My reluctence is my older dd (11)has used lists, but she told me this morning they just don't work for her. She forgets them and that the lessons we have done in AAS have helped. She has been doing dictation for 2 years now though(sonlight, didn't do the way carrie explains it and she missed a lot of words) she does like dictation.

The AAS rules and explanations make sense to me. I am a horrible speller. I just don't know if it is just over kill.

So maybe just do the list with my son and keep using the AAS with my daughter? What adivce would you all have for me?

If you use the list do you do a test on them on a certain day? I didn't see any day that said test in the guide.

On other note do any of you give English test from Rod & Staff? I see them in the TM, but it didn't seem written in the guide. I have been just using the quizzes.

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

[lissiejo]

I honestly think a lot of that has to do with the kid. I started using a program with rules in addition to the lists in Beyond last year because my daughter is very rule oriented and she was struggling with just a list. Things make sense to her when there is a reason for them. However, I also see the value it sight recognition spelling. It's good to be able to look at something and say, "Hmmm...that doesn't look right!" My daughter has benefited greatly from the dictation in Bigger so far this year. I do a balance of both and never on the same day. It is working for her even though I may not have to do both with my next daughter who seems to find spelling easy.

[mrsrandolph]

It is really a personal decision. I use AAS with all of mine, and they do well with it.