Teaching phonics pretty much always makes me want to gouge out my eyeballs with a spoon. And it seems that, for the next decade or so, I will have at least one, if not two, phonics students under my tutelage. I believe this is what is known as “refiner’s fire.”
We’re finishing up our core curriculum (Tapestry of Grace Year 3) and moving on to a lighter summer schedule with more science focus for the twins and phonics focus for Adam and Ellen. Probably because any morning that got out of hand this year, phonics was what I gleefully punted in favor of other things.
There. I said it. Confession is good for the soul, right?
I remembered recently that I never fully explained the difference between All About Spelling (AAS) and All About Reading (AAR).
If you have a better memory than I do, you may recall that I switched Sam and Ian to AAS a few years ago and it was the catalyst that made Sam a great reader today and helped me to only get the spoon as far as my eyelashes. I taught Adam to read with AAS Level 1 (my review here) but when All About Reading came out, I decided to make the switch for he and Ellen.
Clear as mud, right?
Anyway, I told you that I liked All About Reading but I never said why.
- It moves at a much slower pace and, despite my own impatience, that’s actually a good thing.
- I had no problem dividing the AAS lessons into pieces, but this breaks them down even more and reinforces each lesson better.
- There’s a section for review, a teaching section (like in AAS, it’s all scripted for you so your brain power isn’t required), but then there’s a game section, and a chance for fluency practice.
- There are more stories to read in the high-quality readers (if you have the old books, you can send them in and exchange them for new ones) and more activities and comprehension questions provided for each story (something I wish I’d had for the twins now that they are doing more reading on their own.)
- The system still relies on the letter tiles, the word and letter cards, and a progress chart but now there’s an activity book to go along with it. It holds games and activities you cut out of the book as well as extra words and sentences to practice with before you move to the actual story in a reader.
Ellen and Adam both responded well to this system. At first, Adam really got into the games and since he’s so tactile, he loved cutting out the pieces and playing with them. As he’s gotten older and we’re further into the curriculum, sometimes he’ll tell me, “Mommy, just let me read the words.”
And I do.
Ellen eats it all up. She wants to cut everything out, play every game, revel in every story. She’s been doing AAR since the Pre-K level (my review is here) and has taken to reading like a duck to water. Although I would normally never think a pre-reading program would be necessary, I will admit that Ellen was far better prepared to start stringing syllables together than the boys were. And I’ll definitely be using it with Willa soon.
If you’ve already invested in All About Spelling will your child suffer? Absolutely not. It worked great for my twins and I think it’s a fantastic method to teach reading. All About Reading is simply a bit more eye-catching and appealing to the younger set. If you’ve got an older reader who is struggling, skip AAR and go straight to AAS.
(And for the record, I want you to know how diligently I’ve worked to make sure the abbreviation for All About Spelling is indeed spelled correctly.)
It’s a relief to know that I’ve found a system that works for my kids no matter what their preferred style of learning or how their enthusiasm ebbs and flows. As always, I love the snatches of one on one time it gives me with my middle kids these days. And while I may still keep a spoon in my pocket during every lesson, I don’t feel in any danger of needing to use it.
High praise, indeed.
What else do you want to know? Did I cover all of your deepest, darkest Reading-related questions???
p.s. Opinions all my own. Affiliate links included because I really like it that much. If you decide you want to purchase, it would help a sister out if you would use that pretty link over in my sidebar. All the proceeds go back into the blog to make it a happier, healthier, safer place for all us. Or maybe they just buy me a mocha. Either way, this blog is fueled by your generous support. 😉
We have used it for our oldest and she is finishing up level 2 AAR… Are you continuing on with AAS with your older ones once they finish AAR-Lv2?
Also, next year I am starting the Pre-Reader program with THREE children… at once!!! My 2 – 6 yo boys and my soon to be 5 yo girl. Am I INSANE??? I feel like it. Any tips? Advice for teaching more than one student on it?
Marci – I have level 3 for AAS but I didn’t finish it with Sam. I will probably just gauge how much more work Adam needs when we finish level 2. I might get it if I really think he needs the slower pace, but he might be ready for just AAS by then, where we can slam through it until he takes off reading on his own. Usually by the end of AAR 2, though, I expect them to be reading fairly well.
I think you’ll have a ball with them, although you may have to break it up sometimes to make sure they’re all getting good practice and one on one time. I’ve not taught it two at one time (yet) but my littles were usually wandering about and would chime in when they wanted to. I would just think through the material ahead of time and figure out where you’ll need to do individual work and where you can do group work so that someone doesn’t get lost in the shuffle.
I’ve found that, with phonics anyway, each kid has their own pace, even if they’re the same age. So you have to let them move at their own pace, even if that means letting someone go ahead and spending more time for another. If that becomes the case, then plan shorter individual lessons (maybe 5-10 minutes with each) and let them move as fast or as slow as they want.
I’ve been using AAS for a couple of years now with my daughter and she is an excellent reader/speller. I will be purchasing AAR pre-Level 1 by the end of the month to use with my 5 yo son and 3 yo daughter. How do the levels of AAR and AAS go together or differ? For example, are they designed to use AAS level 1 at the same time as AAR level 1?
Okay, so these are BOTH for teaching reading? I mean, I know teaching spelling can help them learn to read, but teaching reading doesn’t necessarily teach them how to spell. I was under the impression that these were separate programs to be used in conjunction.
I love AAS because of the strong phonics. I’m learning rules that I’ve never known before (and I’m a certified elementary reading teacher and the daughter of an English teacher), so I love finally being able to explain things like why the silent E in “have” doesn’t make the A say it’s long sound!
I actually haven’t bought the AAR because we had already started with a different program when it came out, but have been considering it for a change of pace. Would you not recommend that if we are using AAS and having success with it?
(I see what you mean about accuracy in typing AAS. Now I’m all on edge!)
Jana – I pulled the quote below directly from their website. Personally, I think if you do one or the other, you’ll get the same basic skills for your children, one just focuses more on spelling rules and one helps iwht reading more. Hope this helps!
“How do All About Reading and All About Spelling work together, and in which order should I use them?
We recommend completing the All About Reading Pre-reading Program and All About Reading Level 1 first, and then adding in the All About Spelling program. By doing so, students will have a solid start in reading, which in turn gives them a strong basis for spelling.
All About Spelling and All About Reading use the same sequence and the same phonograms. Both are complete phonics programs, so they are interrelated in that way. AAS teaches words from the spelling angle, while AAR teaches words from the reading angle.
All About Reading includes decoding skills, fluency, comprehension, vocabulary, and lots of reading practice. It uses letter tiles just like All About Spelling does, though AAS focuses instead on encoding skills, spelling rules, and other strategies that help children become good spellers.
Because of the way they are designed, the programs are also independent of each other so students can move as quickly or as slowly as they need to with each skill. Kids generally move ahead more quickly in reading, and we don’t want to hold them back with the spelling.”
Jennifer – I answered a previous reader’s question that was similar in this comment: http://108.167.189.76/~vitafam/all-about-spelling-vs-all-about-reading-a-review/comment-page-1/#comment-29063
In your case, if your kids are loving AAS, why change what works? On the other hand, if you’re looking for something that is a bit more kid-friendly and still focuses strongly on phonics (all of the same spelling rules are included), AAR might be a fun switch.
This review has been so timely for me! Thank you!
I taught my son at home for his kindergarten year and the experience was fantastic. He learned so much that when he started first grade in a private school they were really unhappy with my decision to not move him right into second grade. I felt on top of everything and it all just seemed to fall into place and I am so grateful to Father for guiding me. It was so natural to be teaching him at home.
For a long list of reasons, my daughter attended kindergarten at the local public school. The year has been so stressful and frankly, she has learned very little academically. I am gearing up to teach her at home this summer and I am completely overwhelmed. She has such a different personality than my son and she is starting at such a different place. Most of what she knows in regards to reading she knew before she entered school. She does know her letter sounds. She can write her letters. The problem is when the letters are combined, even in a simple cvc words, she blanks on how to combine the sounds. She does know 25 sight words, but just from memorization, not sounding out.
Soooo, after I wrote a novel here 😉 my question is: Would you recommend either of these programs for my daughter based on what information I’ve given? Any tips or tricks you want to pass down to this uncertain Momma?
Kay – I’m no expert, but I would start with All About Reading. She may move through the first part quickly, and that’s great, but it will let you see what she really does and doesn’t know and find any gaps in her learning. It’s developed with her age in mind, so it should be fun for her. Good luck!
cHi, I have 2 older girls that have gaps in their phonics knowledge. For years I’ve tried filling those gaps with different reading programs, but the childish aspects turn them off and discourages them from pushing on. I would love to find a spelling program for older students that focuses on phonics and spelling rules without them feeling talked down to. Could AAS do that – maybe using a higher level? Or could you suggest something else? Thanks.
Would you consider emailing me your reply as I see no way to subscribe to comments and may never find my way back here (I found you via a search for this product). I’m relying primarily on my phone for Internet access these days and it makes saving and revisiting sites very difficult without notification. Thank you!
Valerie – Yes, AAS would be perfect for them. Not childish. Straight forward. Easy to use. They do suggest that you start out at Level 1 no matter the age just so you can find the gaps from the very beginning, but you would be better equipped to make that decision. Good luck!
Thank you SO much for this review! I’ve had to ‘trim down’ what I can get for my son for Kindergarten next year and was going back and forth about doing spelling (cheaper) or reading since they looked like they’d do the same job. I’d settled on reading, but didn’t know how or why to explain to my husband that the reading program may be a better start despite the cost. I now have a more sound argument with this review. Thank you!
I just wanted to say thank for for sharing your review with such details. The comments and questions have also been extremely helpful. I’ve been on the fence about which level I should get to use with our daughter and if we should use AAR, AAS, neither, or both at some point. Looks like we’ll be starting with AAR Level 1 and perhaps adding the Spelling at some point in the future. Thank you again!.
Just ordered the pre-reading (used your link on the side). Am using it for my 6.5 yr old, 4 yr old and hoping the 3 yr old will get involved as well. The 6.5 yr old is doing a little bit of reading already but is missing a lot of the basics and that makes it hard for him. This is our first semester homeschooling (started this week) so I am thinking this will likely carry through the summer (which is fine) then hopefully we can continue on with AAR level 1 in the fall (at least with the oldest). Thank you for the comparison. I was looking all over the place online trying to find more info on the differences.
JenniferS. – Thanks for using my link, much appreciated! I think this sounds like a great way to start out! Best of luck to you, Mama!
I have a son going into grade 6 and is struggling to read and spell. I have been told he is at a grade 3 level – where do i start him – firstly i’m confused, not sure where to start the spelling or reading program or do we start at the beginning
Hayley – It’s always better with this program to start at the beginning, even if you fly through it at first. You’ll soon find where the holes are in his understanding and be able to fix them. It’s much hard to pick this up in the middle. You’re likely to miss the fundamental steps he needs to help him put all the pieces together. When I started with my son, he’d already finished an entirely different reading program. But we started at the beginning and I quickly figured out what he hadn’t understand the first time. We fixed those items and discovered new ways to learn the old tricks. He’s a great reader now. Good luck!!!
After dropping $130 for the AAR Level 1 and the letter tiles kit, now I am thinking, oops. Thought I was buying a complete reading program only to realize that there are still level 2 and 3. Hope this isn’t a completely ignorant comment. I am a complete beginner at this. So, will we have to do levels 2 and 3?
Also, I just noticed that I used the word complete or completely 3 times. Seriously…
Jen – It depends on you and your students. I usually go on to level 2 with mine. At the end of level 1, they’re reading… basically. To expand on this, level 2 is great. By the end of level 2, they’re reading most things. Level 3 is mostly for the kid who just hasn’t quite put it all together. I’ve found that if I have to go to level 3, we don’t finish it. Some kids need just a bit more practice and then they’re off and reading without me. The good news is, if you decide you want level 2, you’ve already spent the start-up cost, so it won’t be as much. So sorry you’re feeling duped. Here’s hoping your little reader is highly motivated and just needs one level!! 🙂
Any advice on breaking down the AAR level 1 lessons, for my impatient about to be 6 year old son? I’ve done ALL sorts of activities with him… for example scooter boarding on his belly to review cards to read them, etc, etc… i feel like as far as we get is the review cards, so we ARE going at a snails pace… but we have not been consistent in it yet b/c i keep thinking, well he must not be ready to read then… but NOW i’m thinking… 5-10 mins no matter what. do you have any advice in how to structure the lessons? like a certain amount of review and then a certain amount for the lessons? or something else?
my daughter we have in AAS level 3. we are doing 20 minutes a day, she is ending 2nd grade and is a good reader but runs from big words. I came to this website trying to decide if she needs AAR level 4 (when it comes out) or if I should just continue down the spelling track… i’m thinking continue on the spelling track but i really think she DOES need more practice on the reading side of it. any tips on making sure i really am making the right choice in maybe not doing AAR 4? i’m willing to do it though if it may benefit. especially since i want to bring my son all the way through it too.
thanks for any advice!
Thanks for the comparison!
I did All About Reading with my first grade son who was having a hard time reading after using several programs. It did help him quite a bit, however the time it took to get through a lesson was unbearable. We broke it up into several sessions, but those fluency sheets were just too much for this son. Explode the code workbooks, as simple as they are, did wonders. That mixed with readers.
Oops, didnt mean to post yet.
Was thinking of starting All About Spelling with him, now that he’s reading better. This review confirmed that for me. Thanks!
I will be starting pre-k with my 4 year old grandchildren. I am trying to find someone that has used Abeka, All About Reading/Spelling and Bob Jones…I’m torn between the three. I have ordered the scope and sequence for Abeka & Bob Jones but I am still torn between the three. Have you experienced all three? Thanks for any information you are willing to share.
I have pulled my son out of public school to home school him. He is in 4th grade and as far as I know has never learned phonics. He was taught sight reading from day 1. His spelling is horrid and he also struggles with reading and sounding out bigger words. We have just started AAS level 1. Will AAS be enough to fill in those gaps? From what I’ve read it looks like AAS should work for him on understanding phonics in both spelling and reading being an older student.
I should also say…
I am willing to do AAR if it’s really necessary but it already is taking us 5+ hours to do our abeka curriculum every day on top of doing their readers. The last thing I want is to give him more work to complete and make him end up hating homeschool. Having said that the point of all this is obviously to help him succeed and get him where he needs to be. I would greatly value your advise on how to best help him.
Amanda Williams – I would call All About Learning press and ask them if they would recommend AAS or AAR for your particular situation. They are better equipped to answer your specific needs than I am. Good luck!!
-Lora
Thank you so much for the review! My son is too old for a remedial reading program, and he is a struggling reader. Spelling – forget that!! I was thinking if I used the spelling program he would naturally benefit in the reading department. It sounds like it really worked for your two oldest children. Yay! Now – does anyone know if the readers with AAR are interesting and entertaining for a struggling reader?
Mine have all found them to be entertaining enough. They aren’t hilarious or anything, but I think they are more interesting than most. 😉
Hi Lora,
Thank you for the very informative article. Will you please explain how the levels work. How long does it take to complete each level? Would one level take one year to complete? Does Level 1 align with first grade, Level 2 with second grade…?
I appreciate your help.
How long it takes depends on you and your student. They’re designed to be used one a year, but I tend to just flow from one to the other. I start with the pre-reading in Kindergarten and then when they finish that, we start Level 1, somewhere around K or 1st grade.
Hi, i was wondering if the phonogram and word cards are the same for aar and aas. Thanks
Yep, they are very, very similar!
Thank you for your review! I’m currently wading through the blessing-curse that is an abundance of curriculum options, and based upon your experience with both AAS and AAR, I’m curious what you might recommend for my 7-year-old. This Fall she enters Grade 2, and while she has read fluently since Kindergarten (kudos to The Reading Lesson), spelling is her nemesis. I’m interested in a course that can give her the ins and outs, ups and downs, whys and hows of phonics (bonus points if phonetic symbols are also used); but! I also need a curriculum not requiring a day and a half and a live-in nanny to accomplish. 😉
It’s not a curriculum they can use without you, but I’ve found that it worked fine to break the lessons down into smaller chunks that felt more manageable to our lifestyle. Don’t focus on finishing the book in a certain amount of time, focus on learning and doing it in small pieces that keep you all sane! In your case, I think AAS is probably a great fit!
I want to start off with the fact that I had used several popular and well known phonological reading programs since kindergarten to teach my youngest daughter. (They worked well for my other children). We were spending 2 or 3 hrs a day on reading and phonics with very little progress despite the fact that she knew all of the phonograms. She just couldn’t put it together in a word. I even went as far as as to have her tested for learning disabilities. This was a terrible experience with an inexperienced young lady, who in the end, told me to put her in school. But I did learn from further testing (from different professional) that she has a low visual processing speed of 1%. My youngest is now halfway through the 4th grade this year. We began level 1 AAS in September of this school year, as she was way behind and reading at a first grade level. She struggled with basic readers. Even Dr Seuss frustrated her. She has flown thru the levels much more quickly than I expected, which is awesome! She is about to begin level 3 (and it’s only February) her reading has improved dramatically!!! She can now read her American Girl books with confidence! We haven’t done any other reading programs this year so I’m confident that AAS has made the difference. I have been studying much about the Orton Gillingham method and just recently began incorporating a sand tray, shaving cream, carpet writing and other hands on practice. I did purchase the AAR levels 1&2, but we didn’t really use them, as my daughter thought the stories and games were very “babyish”. I will say that to use both AAR and AAS is overkill, as they cover the same phonics and rules. I do think that AAR is the way to go for a younger child. I wish I had known about All About Learning from the start. It would’ve most likely prevented much frustration and tears.
Hi, could you please suggest me in this..
do we need to buy separate cards for every child?
and also if i orderdered one complete kit of AAR level 1 and later on when i order AAS do i still need to order cards?
I think the company suggests each child have their own cards so they can keep up with how they move through them, but I don’t think it’s the end of the world if you don’t have a set for each child. I don’t know about the second question for sure, you might contact the company and ask them! Good luck! – Lora
We’re working through AAR Level 1 and going to do Level 2 after. I was under the impression that we should start AAS Level 1 and do that while doing AAR Level 2 to work on spelling. At least that’s what the website says. Now that your kids are older, how high did you go in AAR? If we’re doing AAR, would you say AAS is still beneficial, or just repetitive? Maybe after AAR Level 2 I just do AAS after that to make she has spelling down? Maybe the easiest way to ask this is if you were to start over, which levels of AAR/AAS would you do to get your child to reading & spelling completely?
Hi, Angela – This is just me, but I would say do AAR. I took mine all the way through AAR. If they need additional spelling help after that, perhaps we would add in AAS. I think that the AAR is a reformatting of AAS but it is more usable for the everyday student.