Monday, August 22, 2011

All About Spelling Deluxe Level 1 Giveaway!

To celebrate my new blog, I've decided to host a giveaway! All About Learning Press has generously offered an All About Spelling Level 1 Deluxe Set to one of my readers, an $80 value!




All About Spelling is a program that has turned not only spelling, but also reading and writing around for my kids. We started over 3 years ago when my kids were 9 & 11, and you can read my original review here. We had tried several programs previously, but nothing seemed to work--and one left my son more confused than when we started.

I thought through what worked in teaching spelling, and what didn't work for us, and spent nearly a hundred hours trying to create my own program. I scoured books and looked for the most effective spelling strategies. Finally an online friend told me that All About Spelling had already done all of this work for me: if I wanted, I could have an open and go program that had done all the research, had mastery-based lessons, customizable review, multi-sensory lessons to help my kids remember, and was based on the Orton Gillingham phonograms.

The All About Spelling Program

I was scared to try it after so many other failed programs and money down the drain, but their 1-year, 100% money-back guarantee convinced me to give one more program a try. Besides, I was burning out on doing my own thing.

After the first year, not only did my kids' spelling improve, but their reading levels went up two full grade levels. I was shocked. We did Levels 1, 2, and part of 3 that year, and they could read harder things than they were covering in spelling, but AAS filled in some gaps for them, helped them develop fluency and made reading easier.

I'll write more about the other ways it has impacted them later this week. For now, if you want to enter the give-away, here's what to do: 1) Check out the All About Spelling Overview and post a comment on my blog about one of the aspects that makes AAS a complete, comprehensive program.

You can enter up to 4 additional times (5 times total) by posting here after you:

2) Post on the AAS Facebook page that Hope for Homeschool sent you (that's my new blog)

3) Follow this blog; if possible, suggest a question or topic you would like me to address in a future blog post when you post that you subscribed.


5) Click to get a free download of Unlocking the Key to Silent E or the 20 Best Tips for Teaching Spelling

The 5 Jobs of Silent E


Be sure to post a comment at the end of this blog for each item to enter your name in the drawing--each comment is an individual entry, so comment multiple times if you do multiple things.

If you already have AAS, you can enter anyway, and if you win, give it away to a friend!

Not sure if your student would start at Level 1? See this FAQ file to help you decide.

The winner will receive a Level 1 Set and a Deluxe Interactive Kit.

Entries must be submitted by Midnight on Monday, September 5th. The winner will be announced on or before Wednesday, September 7th.

Feel free to post a link to this giveaway to your friends! Thanks, Merry :-)

89 comments:

  1. OK, I did it!
    1) Posted on the AAS FB site that your blog sent me,
    2) "Liked" your blog's FB page,
    3) Subscribed to your blog (in Google Reader - is that alright?), and
    4) Clicked for the download!

    Here's to hoping I win! I really need something different for my #3 dd!

    Leslie/NUOY

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  2. Post #2 for my 2nd entry!
    Leslie/NUOY

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  3. Post #3 for my 3rd entry!
    Leslie/NUOY

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  4. aaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnndddddddddddd post #4 for my 4th entry! I sure as heck better win, cuz I feel silly! :)

    Leslie/NUOY

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  5. Done! I would love to win! :) I am in my 3rd year of homeschooling. I have been struggling to find the best programs. My biggest problem is my kids don't like traditional school. I keep it interesting by doing a lot of experiments and activities but it is like pulling teeth to get then to sit down and do their assignments! Any suggestions would be great! Thank you!

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  6. The final entry I am allowed. #4! Hope Leslie or I win! :)

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  7. I love that AAS is multi-sensory!


    MX Mom Heather

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  8. I posted on All About Spelling that you sent me over!

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  9. I am also following you on email. I always love reading about someone's homeschool schedule and curriculum they use. There are so many different ideas/types out there that seeing them in use really helps.
    Kim

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  10. I like you on facebook and can't wait to see what gets posted
    Kim

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  11. I downloaded the silent e activity and actually plan on reviewing it with my daughter this week.
    Kim

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  12. Hey, just dropping by Merry and saying, "Hi!" Nice blog. Best wishes on your new endeavor.

    Chloe

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  13. I love to read your blog. Looks like a great program.

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  14. Liked AAS on FB and posted you sent me.

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  15. Downloaded Unlockint the Key to silent e

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  16. @Melinda, great topic! I'll try to blog on some ideas in the future, but in the meantime I posted on facebook tonight for ideas on mixing things up for kids who like to be active--anyone with ideas for Melinda, please go post! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-for-Homeschool/271782779514383#!/pages/Hope-for-Homeschool/271782779514383?sk=wall

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  17. OK, I did all four!
    1--Posted on the AAS FB site that your blog sent me
    2--Liked your blog's FB page,
    3--Subscribed to your blog via email
    4--Clicked for the download

    Thank you very much!
    tdmom777 at g m a i l dot com

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  18. @Angie--make sure you comment for each item you did--your comments are your "entries" in the contest, and you've earned 3 more entries :-)

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  19. I signed up for the free down load for Unlocking the Key to Silent E.

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  20. I 'liked' on FB. homeschooling6{at}hotmail{dot}come
    Linda<><

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  21. I am now a followr via email.
    homeschooling6{at}hotmail{dot}com
    Thanks,
    Linda<><

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  22. I liked your blog's FB page.

    Thank you very much for your help Merry!
    tdmom777 at g m a i l dot com

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  23. I subscribed to your blog via email.

    Thank you very much for your help Merry!
    tdmom777 at g m a i l dot com

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  24. I clicked for the download.

    Thank you very much!
    tdmom777 at g m a i l dot com

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  25. I did all the above! This would be a HUGE blessing to our family! God knows who He wants this to go to though!! Just in case, my email address is wy_kid_wrangler @ yahoo . com

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  26. Just putting in entry number 2 in hopes of winning this for ds!

    wy_kid_wrangler @ yahoo . com

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  27. I don't believe in 'luck' so Good Blessings to everybody who entered! :)

    entry number 3 :)

    wy_kid_wrangler @ yahoo . com

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  28. I want to thank AAS for such a WONDERFUL opportunity! This will bless the family that receives this I am certain!

    Entry number 4 :)

    wy_kid_wrangler @ yahoo . com

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  29. Hope everybody has a WONDERFUL school year this year! We have been off to a rocky start but that is to be expected as diagnoses are still coming in for my 1st grade sn son! It WILL get better, I am confident :)

    entry number 5 :)

    wy_kid_wrangler @ yahoo . com

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  30. I clicked the free download.
    Thanks,
    Linda<><
    homeschooling9{at}hotmail{dot}com.

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  31. I like that AAS uses Orton-Gillingham methods. I think that would make it a complete and comprehensive spelling program.

    binahyeteirah at yahoo dot com

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  32. Entry #2

    I signed up for the downloads.

    binahyeteirah at yahoo dot com

    Thanks for the great giveaway.

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  33. Entry #1-I think the thing that is most appealing with AAS is the multisensory approach. We've used the same approach with MUS and it is working so well. I would love to be able to do that with spelling also.

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  34. Entry #2-I liked the AAS Facebook page and let them know you sent me.

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  35. Entry #3-I liked you on Facebook

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  36. Entry #4-I signed up for the newsletter and got the two freebies.

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  37. Entry #5-I am now following your blog.

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  38. I really want to try this program - my oldest is a great speller, but my younger two have been struggling, and I think AAS has all the angles covered - rules, repetition, different learning styles.

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  39. I told AAS that you sent me to their FB page.

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  40. Tried to follow your blog, but it says it can't handle my request right now :(

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  41. I have been trying to find this program used off of Well Trained Mind.....then I decided to just buy it from AAS....then I saw your blog! Maybe I'll win it instead! Thank you for your encouragement....we need to venture down a new spelling path!

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  42. I like AAS because the lessons are multi-sensory - perfect for my wiggly kindergartener!

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  43. Posted on All About Spelling's Facebook page that you sent me over!

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  44. Got my free downloads, thanks!

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  45. I'm getting an error when I click the link to follow your blog, but I added your feed to my Google Reader.

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  46. 1) Went on AAS FB page and mentioned that this blog sent me
    2) went on FB and liked your page
    3) subscribed to your blog
    4) Clicked for the download

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  47. I would LOVE to win this set! Thanks for the sharing!!

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  48. 11. For the child who learns one day and forgets the next. (This is my reason for wanting to try this program.)

    Leslie/My Lifesong Sings

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  49. I liked your "Hope for Homeschool" page on Facebook. :)

    Leslie/My Lifesong Sings

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  50. I posted on the AAS Facebook page.

    Leslie/My Lifesong Sings

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  51. I just downloaded "Unlocking the Key to Silent E".

    Leslie/My Lifesong Sings

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  52. I love that it is similar to SWR but more multisensory It would be perfect for my boys.

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  53. I love the fact that it is multisensory!
    raisingaquiverful@yahoo.com

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  54. Posted on AAS fb page.
    raisingaquiverful@yahoo.com

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  55. Posted on AAS FB page.

    sionnon(at)mac.com

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  56. I love that it is multisensory and not just another workbook and list.

    sionnon(at)mac.com

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  57. I liked your facebook page
    sionnon(at)mac.com

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  58. Subscribed to the blog via email.

    sionnon(at)mac.com

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  59. Finished download

    sionnon(at)mac.com

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  60. 1) Entered this comment
    2) Posted on the AAS Facebook page that Hope for Homeschool sent you
    3) Followed this blog
    4) Liked Hope for Homeschool on Facebook
    5) Clicked to get a free download of Unlocking the Key to Silent E or the 20 Best Tips for Teaching Spelling

    I really hope to be on the winning team! I already maxed out our homeschool funds!

    -Y

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  61. Oh, I didn't know I had to comment 4 more times.. could you let us know how you are going to contact the winner? Are we supposed to leave our email on this comment?
    -Y

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  62. When we finished the down load, and liked the entries, are you going to verify each step before you contact the winner?

    - Y

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  63. Entry #5

    -Y

    Zamwiam @ g m a i l (dot) com

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  64. Hi - I love the multisensory approach, would love to try it! Thank you, Carlen
    cs_cooper@hotmail.com

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  65. 2) posted on AAS FB page that you sent me :o)
    Thank you,
    Carlen
    cs_cooper@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  66. 3) Subscribed to your blog
    Thank you,
    Carlen
    cs_cooper@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  67. 4) Liked your FB Hope for Homeschool page.
    Thank you,
    Carlen
    cs_cooper@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  68. 5)Clicked and signed up for Unlocking the Key to Silent E or the 20 Best Tips for Teaching Spelling.
    Thank you,
    Carlen
    cs_cooper@hotmail.com

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  69. @Tater Tot, I'll be posting the winner here and also emailing the winner (if I have the email). Thanks!

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  70. Love the multisensory aspect that is also scripted! korr772003 at yahoo dot com

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  71. Entry #1
    I like the no gaps and teaching one concept at a time.

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  72. Entry #2

    I liked AAS FB page and posted that Hope For Homeschool sent me. :)

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  73. Entry #3

    I subscribed to your blog. :)
    calbright32[AT]gmail.com

    **I forgot to add my email to the 2 previous posts, it is also calbright32[AT]gmail.com** :)

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  74. Entry #4

    I liked your FB page.

    calbright32[AT]gmail.com

    ReplyDelete