2024-2025 1st Grade Curriculum Choices | Secular Homeschool

[@velvetme22]

Yes to spelling concurrently with reading programs!

[@themodernhomemaker]

Hi, I came here from your LOE video and wondering why you’re doing AAR/AAS instead or what made you make your decision?

[@TicketToLearning]

@@themodernhomemaker I’m currently using AAR and AAS with my youngest. I liked LOE, but found it to be a bit overwhelming for my kids and a little less flexible for me to adapt. I think for some kids it can work really well but some of the struggles were: learning all the sounds of a letter at once - that was too overwhelming for my kids. The heavy focus on rules and memorizing them. It also moved quickly and my child I used it with the most has dysgraphia so his skills weren’t lining up with the rate they were moving. It was too fast. I think if I approached it again with more experience, I would likely be able to make it work, but it is quite expensive and I’ve gotten into a good rhythm with AAR and AAS, so I’m just sticking with it. I still think LOE is a solid program though.

[@themodernhomemaker]

@@TicketToLearning I’m worried the handwriting part with be overwhelming too, i figured we can try that part and if it doesn’t click I’ll just drop it and do a workbook style. My son I think had some dysgraphia or just more weak fine motor skills but I mainly was interested since he had a speech apraxia and it seems to have extra foundation for that area. Thanks so much for your insight!

[@TicketToLearning]

@@themodernhomemaker yes! And you can still do the spelling part with letter tiles or even a letter tile app. It’s totally doable even without that.

[@astoldbydeedra]

We have been using Explode the Code alongside All About Reading Level One. Some of their exercises are spelling-based, and my kiddo seems to decode better when she knows how these three-letter CVC words are spelled. I considered adding All About Spelling into the mix before we finish Level One, just waiting to get into a few more lessons before I set something in stone.

[@TicketToLearning]

Explode the Code is a great supplement to All About Reading. There is SO much research to support spelling and writing along with learning to read. I’m glad that set up is working well for you. If Explode the Code is working well, I say keep it up.

[@astoldbydeedra]

@@TicketToLearning We've reached a pause in Explode the Code where a new vowel is introduced, but we're still learning CVS words with the 'a' vowel in AAR. I'd love to see how you're aligning AAR and AAS.

[@TicketToLearning]

@@astoldbydeedra that makes a lot of sense. It’s why I went with AAS instead of explode the code. This is the correlation I put together: The beginning is a bit messy, the first few AAS lessons can really be used with AAR 1 at any point. AAR 8 --> AAS 8 AAR 10 --> AAS 9 AAR 12 --> AAS 10 AAR 14 --> AAS 11 AAR 16 --> AAS 12 AAR 18-23 --> AAS 13 AAR 24 --> AAS 14 AAR 26 --> AAS 15 AAS 16 AAR 29 ---> AAS 17 AAR 34 --> AAS 18 AAR 36 --> AAS 19 AAR 38 --> AAS 20 AAR 40 --> AAS 21 AAR 42 --> AAS 22 & 23 AAR 52 --> AAS 24 & 25 Then it moves to level 2 of AAS

[@astoldbydeedra]

@@TicketToLearning I feel like you just gave me the cheat codes! Thank you!

[@TicketToLearning]

@@astoldbydeedra I hope that helps. :)

[@TheMommaLibrarian]

Words are hard 🤣 I just said “area” instead of “era” THREE times in my last video 🤣

[@TicketToLearning]

😂 I love it, and I’m so glad I’m not the only one with this struggle. 😂