TOS Homeschool Crew Review ~  All About Spelling (AAS)

All About Spelling is a multisensory spelling program based on the Orton-Gillingham approach. It can be used for beginners or remedial students.

I really like this program. Having looked through it for myself, I’m very seriously considering using AAS as our only spelling curriculum next year.

AAS uses letter tiles, phonogram cards, key cards (spelling rule flash cards or prompts), sound cards, word cards, plastic disks, an index card file (you need to make this small purchase this yourself) along with the teacher’s manual and pencil and paper. Optional items are magnets for the letter tiles in case you’d like to store the letter tiles on a magnetic white board. Personally I think that would be the best route, otherwise you have to rearrange the letter tiles on your table for every lesson. Some of my other Crew Members got creative. I believe one said she used an old metal screen door that had been sitting in her garage and some used their fridge. There’s also a phonogram CD that pronounces the phonograms for you. This is a very nice extra to have. If you have never paid close attention to the pronunciation of individual sounds, you may want to get this but I don’t think I personally would have purchased it because pronunciation was given special attention at the beginning of my children’s reading program, 100 Easy Lessons.

AAS begins with you teaching students the phonogram sounds with the phonogram cards. The sounds are reviewed every day and filed away. The program is very well organized so you simply use the index card sized tabbed dividers to file the cards to be reviewed or mastered in the correct spot. The plastic disks are used to segment words, then you transition into spelling the words with the letter tiles and on to spelling with paper and pencil. Spelling rules are taught one at a time with Key Cards and Word Cards are used as examples and a basic spelling list. Since AAS can be used for either young students learning spelling for the first time or for remedial students, extra practice is given just in case your student needs it. The student progresses to writing dictated words and phrases.

The work level is customized to each child. That’s huge. Nothing is more intimidating than working at a level that is too difficult and nothing more boring than something too easy.

AAS is very organized so it’s easy to teach and everything is explained very clearly. You are given a materials list at the beginning of the book and multisensory teaching is briefly covered in the beginning of the book. You’re even given index card files with descriptions of which cards belong behind them.

The letter tiles are nice. They equate to less writing which is a bonus for those that struggle with writing like Tink.

I noticed many of the other crewmembers saying their little ones were sitting in on lessons and learning how to read! Cool! Kill two birds with one stone. Dude was also chiming in on some of the lessons.

Tips boxes in the teacher’s manual are extremely helpful. They usually give you options on how to help your child if they’re struggling with a new concept or rule.

There’s built in review in every lesson. The layout of the pages is very easy to follow and so are the teacher’s instructions.

AAS even has a One year money-back guarantee.

I am going to mention that Tink wasn’t very interested in the program. It seems my girls are quite loyal to curriculum they like and Tink just discovered Rod & Staff’s Spelling program and she’s really enjoying it. She doesn’t want to give it up but we may switch over to AAS since we were going to make a switch anyway if we’d followed MFW’s suggestions. Perhaps once Tink gets the idea that it’ll be our only spelling curriculum, she’ll give it a better shot. Personally I don’t think we could find one that would work better than AAS for my active, kinesthetic Tink. So far AAS looks like a fantastic program. I really have to wonder if anyone has actually taken them up on that guarantee.