All About Reading was first introduced in 2010. It was designed as a companion to All About Spelling. Both were created by Marie Rippel, and were created after her son was diagnosed with severe dyslexia. Using her Language Arts Education background, she found a way to give him the tools to learn to read and spell. With All About Reading, the goal was to create a complete reading curriculum that parents could teach confidently at home, even if you have no formal training.
There are 5 levels to All About Reading – Pre-Reading then Levels 1 through 4. Please note that the levels do not correspond with grade levels.
KEY FEATURES OF ALL ABOUT READING
- All About Reading uses a multisensory approach. Your child will use letter tiles, flashcards, hands-on activities, and read-alouds to reinforce each concept.
- This style is rooted in the Orton-Gillingham method, which is research-based and proven especially effective for students with dyslexia, ADHD, or other reading challenges.
- It is a mastery based program. That means each lesson will build sequentially and will introduce one new concept at a time, while continually reviewing earlier ones. It wants your child to understand and build fluency. It is teaching a method, not memorization.
- All About Reading has illustrated story books that include humor and variety, fun activities and games. This is designed to make reading more enjoyable.
PROS OF ALL ABOUT READING
- The multisensory, hands-on approach keeps kids engaged through touch, sound and sight. You are not relying on worksheets and it is not a drill-based program (repeated, targeted practice).
- Because it is based on Orton-Gillingham, it is an especially good option if you’re dealing with reading difficulties.
- It is designed to be open-and-go, though there is prep with organizing the letter tiles. As the parent you can simply open the manual and teach the lesson. It is laid out simply for you. Just follow what is written.
- The lessons are designed to be 20 minutes each. A shorter lesson will help your child stay engaged and learning.
- It is mastery based. This means that your child can move at their own pace. It is ok if a lesson is done over a couple of days. You can slow down, repeat as needed, or move faster if your child is ready.
- The stories, games, manipulative and illustrations are all well thought out, and easy to use. There is now an option to use an app for the letter tiles.
- There are placement tests to see how your child is reading.
- They have a full year money back guarantee!
CONS OF ALL ABOUT READING
- This is not an independent learning curriculum. It does require a fair amount of time for you to teach each lesson.
- You do want to keep the letter tiles, etc organized. Some people don’t like the fussiness of all the tiles but they are an integral part of the curriculum.
- Some people feel that the cost is high, but for a reading support curriculum, it really isn’t. I understand that budget can be an issue.
- It is not a complete language arts program. Yes, it covers phonics, decoding, fluency and reading comprehension, but it does not include writing. It is called “All About Reading” for a reason.
- While the lessons are designed to be 20 minutes in length, some of them can take longer. But again, it is ok if you break a lesson down over a couple of days. Just set a timer for 20 minutes and stop when it goes off. Pick up the lesson the next day where you left off.
COST OF ALL ABOUT READING
The Pre-Reading level is $119.95. Levels 1-4 are $159.95 for the manual, student pack (activity book, flashcards and stickers) and the readers. There is a one off purchase of letter tiles for $25.95 and a review box (optional but highly recommended) of $17.95.
There is now an app you can use instead of the physical letter tiles. This is $19.99. Many families are now using the app. A bonus is not worrying about losing tiles.
MY THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS
I have taught reading recovery and I have used All About Reading. I think that it is an excellent program for struggling readers. It especially helps struggling reading with dyslexia or ADHD where a multisensory, mastery-based approach helps. This is a great fit for all readers, but it was designed with struggling readers in mind. It is not a program I would recommend if your child is ahead in reading.
If your child is older (8 to 12) and struggling, this is a great program, because older kids often have gaps in phonics, decoding, and fluency. The mastery-based, multisensory structure of AAR will fill those gaps.
The placement test is essential in my mind. You don’t want to start off too easy for your child, and you don’t want it to be too difficult, or to end up with any gaps in their understanding. If you need more help, there are free resources you can download. All of them are informational and helpful.
If you are looking for something that your child can do mostly on their own, this program is not ideal. And likewise, if you are looking for a complete language arts curriculum, this isn’t for you. You would have to pair All About Reading with other resources.
Make the most of looking at the samples that they have online for each level. They cover all parts of what you need for each level.
If you are looking for a strong, well researched and evidence supported reading program, this is a great option for you.
Other reviews worth checking out:
MiAcademy
Spelling U See
