Account
Contact
Search 
1,264

Using All About Spelling with Older Students

All About Spelling is frequently used with teens and adults. But sometimes parents and teachers aren’t sure how to get started with older students who need remedial work.

Here are five of my favorite strategies:

  1. Adjust the First Few Levels to Your Student’s Needs

    Most older students should begin All About Spelling with Level 1. The words in Level 1 are easy to spell, but many students have not learned the concepts behind them, and these concepts are crucial for success throughout the program. For example, most struggling students will know how to spell cat, but they don’t know why cat is spelled with a C instead of a K. They obviously don’t need to practice spelling the word cat, but they may need to learn the concept so they can apply it to words like emergency and concentrate. The beginning levels fill in important gaps like this.

    a young boy and mom work through some spelling word cards

    Here are some other Level 1 concepts that older learners may not be familiar with, but that will be a huge help when they get to higher level words:

    If you think your older student may be able to skip Level 1, take a look at our All About Spelling Placement Test for help in determining the best placement.

  2. Consider How You Present the Program

    To help older kids understand why it’s important to start with Level 1, try comparing learning to spell to something they can relate to, like video games or swimming lessons. Your student may understand that even though the first level of a game (or of swimming lessons) may seem easy, that doesn’t mean he should jump ahead to the fifth level. But it does mean that he can go quickly through the earlier levels, learning what he needs to know so that when he does get to the higher levels, he isn’t overwhelmed by having to learn too much at once.

    Older boy spelling words on notebook paper with a review box next to him

    Anna Gillingham, co-founder of the Orton-Gillingham approach, put it this way: “Go as fast as you can, but as slow as you must.”

    With older learners, you will probably go much faster than you would with a younger student, but be prepared to slow down if you reach a concept that your student doesn’t understand. Your goal is to achieve mastery.

  3. Have Your Student Teach a Concept Back to You Using Letter Tiles or the Letter Tiles App

    When your student can teach a spelling concept back to you, it’s a good sign that he or she has mastered a concept or group of words and is ready to move on. But if your student has to stop and think it through or seems challenged, spend more time on that particular lesson.

    Teenage girl and and mom work with letter tiles on a whiteboard
  4. Take Advantage of Advanced Application.

    Starting in Lesson 7 of Level 1, Advanced Application sheets are provided especially for older students. These students may already know how to spell small words such as fan and nap, and this section helps them use those words to create longer words, such as fantastic and napkin.

    Spelling teacher's manual open to an advanced application page

    You can see a samples of the Advanced Application sections on our All About Spelling lesson sample page.

  5. Customize the Lessons for Your Student

    Older students will need to have the program customized to meet their needs according to their prior spelling knowledge. All About Spelling Color Edition has some built-in features to make this easier for you. In Lessons 1-6, the “Before You Begin” portion of each lesson has a section titled “Can You Skip This Lesson?” to help you decide if your student needs to complete that particular lesson.

    Merry Marinello, one of our customer service reps, encountered this situation with her own students. When Merry started using All About Spelling Level 1, her students were in sixth and fourth grades, well past the “typical” age for Level 1.

    The PDF below explains how Merry customized the first sixteen lessons of AAS Level 1 for her students. Of course, you may need to use different customizations for your students, but this may give you some ideas as you start out.

    download graphic for customizing the first 16 lessons for older students

Testimonials from Two Real Moms

Jamie Martin shared a blog post about teaching her teenage son with All About Spelling.

Spelling is important, of course, but never more important than the overall health and well-being of your student! Even with all the hard work we’ve put in, Jonathan is never going to call spelling his favorite subject, nor will it be his strongest one. The way I see it, that’s what spellcheck and dictation are for. 😉



I’ve asked him if, looking back, he wishes that I had pushed him to start earlier. He said, “Sometimes I do, but I think even though it might have made my spelling stronger, it would have made my love of learning weaker. And I don’t think I would be as interested in writing as I am now.”



My biggest advice, no matter what subject you’re covering with your student, is to remember to laugh! Because Jonathan chose to get serious about spelling, he was (almost) always a willing participant, which means we have had some of our best times and biggest laughs during our lessons. (Read more…)

And Bridget shared her son’s inspiring story with us via email…

I am a retired teacher, an instructional coach, and the mother of 4. My youngest son is dyslexic and has struggled with reading and spelling his whole life. He is also a reluctant writer because of his struggles with spelling. He is a smart student, but I couldn’t make sense of what he tried to write.

I was searching for a way to help him and stumbled upon your program online. We made a commitment to see it through. In two weeks we will finish Level 6 of All About Spelling. It has taken us about 7 months to advance through levels 1-6. I am so proud of my son and so thankful for this program. If you could only see where he started and where he is now. I look back at the dictation we were doing seven months ago and the dictation he is able to do now, and I am just amazed. It has taken commitment and hard work from both of us, but the reward is that he can now communicate what is in his mind onto paper.

My son will never be a perfect speller, but I would venture to say he now spells better than many adults. I would highly recommend this program to others who are desperately searching for a way to help their older student. I hope this testimonial will encourage others to take the plunge, be persistent and committed, and see how this program can open doors for your student.

Do you have questions about using All About Spelling with an older student? Post in the comments below, and we’ll be happy to help brainstorm solutions!

Share This:

< Previous Post  Next Post >

Leave a Reply

Sarah

says:

I just ordered this program and we are loving it! However, I ordered from the Canadian distributor and received the older black and white version. That’s fine, but it doesn’t include the Advanced Application spelling lists and I’m using the program with my 10 and 11 year old starting in level 1. I find myself wishing those advanced lists for each level were available somewhere?

Robin

says: Customer Service

Sarah,
I’m sorry, no. The Advanced Application activities are only available in our Color Edition materials.

However, if you check the samples of the Color Edition Level 1 in Lesson 11, you can see how the Advanced Application activities work, and can use that to make your own.

I hope this helps some.

Nanu Kelley

says:

I am a grandma to a struggling 9 year old speller, how much does this cost?

Robin

says: Customer Service

Nanu,
You can purchase our materials and find the pricing on our website here.

Let me know if you have questions about placement or need anything else. I’m happy to help!

R. Turner

says:

My 10 year bulked at first because she thought she didn’t need to start at the same level as her 7 yr old brother and 4 yr old sister. But once giving it a try she realized how easy it was. It really was a confidence booster she needed to get better at spelling and sounding out words when she was reading.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you for sharing this! It’s great to hear how your 10-year-old has done with All About Spelling Level 1.

Rachel

says:

I’ve found this resource and blog tips so helpful with an older learner for a lower level.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Great that this was helpful, Rachel! Let us know if you have questions or need anything.

Amanda

says:

This is great info!! Thanks for the tips and the download. I am doing AAS with one of my sons and was wondering how to bring the other older kids on board. Thanks again!

Robin

says: Customer Service

I’m glad this is helpful, Amanda! However, if you have additional questions or need anything, just ask. We’re happy to help!

Katie Schulte

says:

Our kids have done very well with AAR! About to start level 4 this school year!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Wonderful to hear, Katie! Thank you.

Raquel

says:

This is so helpful!

Robin

says: Customer Service

I’m glad this is helpful, Raquel!

Dell

says:

Sounds like something my 11 yr old niece needs. She doesn’t even know the sound of all the letters.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Dell,
It does sound like your niece would benefit from All About Spelling!

Hayley

says:

We started AAS with my 9 year old. It has been very valuable.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Great to hear, Hayley! Thank you.

Kerrian

says:

Sounds like a great resource!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, Kerrian!

Kandice

says:

Thanks for the helpful information. The placement test will be very helpful.

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Kandice. Yes, the placement test is helpful.

Angelina

says:

OMG! I just came across this blog due to the reading academy I am participating. I was a bit nervous teaching 8th-grade students cause it would be my first year teaching this grade level, and I was worried about how to help students who may be below their reading level. I am saving your browser for future reference.

Robin

says: Customer Service

I’m glad you have found our blog articles helpful, Angelina! If you have questions or specific concerns, we’re happy to help.

David

says:

I like it.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thank you, David.

Stephanie

says:

Thank you for helping us late starters.

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Stephanie. I first found All About Spelling when my daughter was 10 and struggling to spell even beginning words. It made a world of difference for her!

Please let me know if you have questions or need anything. I’m happy to help!

Karen

says:

My son has intellectual disabilities and speech delays. Level 1 AAS has helped him not only with spelling but also with speech. He has trouble spelling verbally but can use the letter tiles to spell the word so we love the manipulatives. This level will work for him for many years because of it’s adaptability.

Robin

says: Customer Service

I’m so glad that All About Spelling is working out well for your son, Karen! Thank you!

Mandie

says:

I love the idea of having my kid teach the concept back to me!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Mandie,
Oh, yes! Having a student teach a concept is such an effective review technique! You have to really know and understand something to be able to explain it so someone else.

Anh

says:

This comment for test

David

says:

I like it

Robin

says: Customer Service

Thanks, David.

Esty

says:

Thank you for this article and for all the free sheets. I’m hoping to purchase the spelling program

Robin

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Esty! Let me know if you have questions about placement or need any other information. I’m happy to help!

Holly

says:

I have been tutoring my 3rd grade grandson (read: teaching him to read!) with AAR since 1st grade. He’s on level 3 now.
I’ve dragged my feet to start Spelling (I have Level 1 in hand) because 1) he had a hard time catching on to Reading (but he has!!!) and 2) it just doesn’t look as fun/enticing (for either of us :) as AAR. The Step 1-16 revisions, which I found today, are Most helpful. I have yet to begin AAS.
I still have one tripping point: I haven’t been able to bring myself to teach the phonogram cards with multiple sounds as presented. It seems he would be learning by rote with no obvious/immediate application. (My grandson has ADHD and dyslexia so immediate need/use is extra helpful.) Can you suggest an alternative and/or give me a pep talk for teaching the phonograms the given way? I don’t want to dig him into a hole he/ we will keep falling into.
Ok, a second tripping point: do the new versions of levels 1-2 give ways to make the lessons, well, more fun? AAR has been Right up our alley; we both enjoy it and my grandson responds to it well.
Thank You for being available for coaching! This is an invaluable part of the program!! —Holly

Robin

says: Customer Service

Holly,
I understand your concerns about teaching all of the sounds of each letter and phonogram. However, there is good reason for learning all the sounds of letters by the end of All About Reading Level 1.

Here’s why Marie Rippel (the author and creator of All About Reading and All About Spelling) teaches all of the sounds of a letter at once:

Let’s take the letter E. It says /ĕ/ – /ē/. The first sound is the most common, and knowing this short sound allows the student to read and spell words like “men, set, and ten.” Knowing the second sound (long E) is important, too, for reading and spelling basic words like “she, me, we.” When students come across new words, they can quickly run through the various options for sounding out words. In the word “even,” for example, the short sound doesn’t make sense for the first E, so he can quickly and easily substitute the long E sound.

Most letters only have one sound. The 5 vowels plus Y, C, G, and S are the letters that have additional sounds. Many of the additional sounds come up in 1st- and 2nd-grade readers, in words like has, ice, age, my, I, me/he/she/we, go, do, put, etc… A child won’t be able to progress very far in reading without knowing the additional sounds.

Sometimes parents are concerned that kids can’t handle it, and this leads them to approach the subject too tentatively. We find just the opposite. Children are liberated when they know the full truth about the letters and the sounds they make.

One thing to remember, all the letters and their sounds are not taught at once. All About Spelling Level 1 Lesson 1 instructs you to work on just four letters at a time. There are games and activities to help with reviewing the letter sounds in more multisensory ways.

Knowing all the sounds of letters ahead of time will give your student a view into what learning is coming up in the future. Also, learning the long sound of all the vowels AND learning to spell words with those long sounds all at the same time can be overwhelming. It is best for a child to know the long sounds (second sounds) of all the vowels well before reaching the spelling lesson that teaches him to use those sounds in words. As for the additional sounds, learning to read or spell words with a vowel’s third (or fourth) sound will be easier if the student is already aware that the vowel has a third (or fourth) sound.

As for the new Color Edition All About Spelling having more help for making the lessons more fun, the answer is yes! These new materials are full of games and activities to make mastering spelling more interactive and enjoyable. Check out the sample materials to get an idea of how this is done.

I hope this helps, but please let me know if you have additional questions or concerns. I’m happy to help as much as you need!

Julie

says:

I’m brand new to this program (it was recommended to me on a homeschool FB page I follow), and I have a question. We live overseas and I just have one opportunity a year to order curriculum from the States. My child is going into 3rd grade in the fall and definitely needs spelling help (his reading is very good). Would you recommend I purchase levels 1 and 2 for the year? Or how many levels would you recommend? I want to make sure I have what I need so that I don’t have to wait another year to purchase. Thank you!

Robin

says: Customer Service

Julie,
Good question. You will definitely need Levels 1 and 2, but there is a good chance that you may need Level 3 as well. It isn’t as likely that your student will finish all of Levels 1, 2, and 3 in one year, but I think it is likely that he will at least need to start Level 3 before you can get your next order.

Summer

says:

My 3rd, 7th and 8th graders are in level 1 together. My 5 year old sits in too, although he can’t read yet. I know we are way behind on spelling. I thought they would eventually just get it without a specific program, but they never got as good at spelling as I wanted. Your article has encouraged me to keep going.

Heather

says:

I have 3rd and 5th grade kiddos and neither are strong spellers (but neither am I!) I would like to help them out so they feel confident in their writing… especially my 3rd grader.

Robin

says: Customer Service

Heather,
Do you have questions about All About Spelling and how it can help your kids become confident, successful spellers? I’m happy to help.

Rosey

says:

I am starting my 3rd grader, excited to see how much it will help him spell better

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

Let us know if you have questions or need help with anything as you start All About Spelling, Rosey. We’re happy to help!

Audrey Farlow

says:

Thank you for this wonderful article. I have two older boys who would greatly benefit from AAS.

Rebecca E

says:

This post is so full of helpful hints, advice and tools. I’ve had AAS on my shelf for a year but this post makes me feel more prepared to start it with my older child.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

I’m glad this post was helpful for you, Rebecca! However, if you need more help or encouragement or just have questions, please feel free to ask! We are happy to help.

Michal

says:

After 3 1/2 years of public school and 2 years of homeschool, my sixth-grader still struggles with spelling. Without a diagnosis of where the problem lies, I’ve finally decided to invest in a comprehensive program that starts from the beginning. These tips are just what I need to adapt the program for her!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

I’m glad these tips were helpful for you, Michal. If you need help or anything, please let us know.

Nicole Christofferson

says:

Helpful information, thanks!

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

You’re welcome, Nicole!

Carla

says:

Thank you! I was stressed about starting level 1 with my older child, but now feel more at ease.

Robin E.

says: Customer Service

I’m glad this blog post has helped you feel more at ease, Carla! However, if you have additional questions or concerns, let me know. I’m happy to help!