All About Reading Curriculum Review
A few years ago, we started using All About Reading, and the kids and I are in LOVE. I’ve cried tears of joy listening to Palmer read unassisted and exclaim “I’m so proud of me! Are you proud of me mom? I am so proud of me!” There are so many amazing and emotional moments in parenting; first word, first steps, but nobody prepared me for how emotional it would be to watch my son read chapters and books alone for the first time. We are absolutely loving All About Reading’s curriculum and want to share it with you for extra reading or as an ideal solution with your struggling readers. With fun games and read-aloud time, students will enjoy the All About Reading curriculum and look forward to lessons.
All About Reading Curriculum Review
Best of all - All About Reading is just fun. The stories are cute and fun to read. Palmer has ZERO clue it is a curriculum, he enjoys the activities, flashcards, and reading to our family every evening. His confidence is sky high and I am thrilled to have found All About Reading to provide him with a strong foundation that will truly set him up for success.
Determining the appropriate level of All About Reading for your child involves assessing their current reading skills and abilities. Here are some steps to help you determine which level to purchase:
Assess Pre-reading Skills: If your child is just beginning to explore reading, consider starting with the Pre-reading level. This level is designed for preschoolers or early learners who are developing foundational pre-reading skills such as letter recognition, phonemic awareness, and rhyming.
Review Phonics Knowledge: Take stock of your child's knowledge of letter sounds and phonics concepts. If they are already familiar with basic phonics and are able to blend simple words, Level 1 might be the appropriate starting point.
Assess Reading Fluency: Consider your child's reading fluency and ability to decode words. If they are reading simple sentences and short stories with relative ease, they may be ready for Level 2 or beyond.
Evaluate Comprehension Skills: Assess your child's comprehension skills by observing their ability to understand and respond to what they read. If they demonstrate strong comprehension skills and are ready for more complex texts, they may be ready for a higher level.
Use All About Reading Placement Tests: All About Learning Press offers free placement test options on their website for each level of the curriculum. These tests can help you assess your child's current reading abilities and determine the most appropriate level to start with.
Consider Age and Grade Level: While chronological age and grade level can provide some guidance, it's important to remember that children develop reading skills at different rates. Focus more on your child's individual abilities rather than strictly adhering to age or grade recommendations.
Start Conservatively: If you're unsure which level to choose, it's often better to start with a lower level and work your way up if needed. Beginning at a slightly easier level can help build confidence and ensure a strong foundation for future learning.
Ultimately, the best way to determine the appropriate level of All About Reading for your child is to consider their individual strengths, needs, and readiness for each level. By taking into account their current reading abilities and using placement tests as a guide, you can make an informed decision and a good fit that sets them up for success in their reading journey.
All About Reading is a comprehensive and sequential homeschool reading curriculum designed to take children from pre-reading skills all the way through to a proficient reading level. Here's an overview of the all about reading AAR level options within the curriculum. Do not stress about the all about reading level numbers, they do not correlate to grade levels. Use the placement tests to find the best level for you.
Pre-reading program: This level is designed for preschoolers or early learners who are just beginning to explore the world of reading. It focuses on building essential pre-reading skills such as letter recognition, letter sounds, rhyming, and basic phonological awareness for younger children.
Level 1: Level 1 introduces children to the foundational skills of reading. It covers letter sounds, blending sounds to form words, sight word recognition, and basic decoding strategies for the early reader. By the end of Level 1, students are typically reading simple sentences and short stories.
Level 2: Building upon the previous editions and lessons learned in Level 1, Level 2 delves deeper into phonics concepts and introduces more complex phonograms and spelling rules. Students continue to develop their decoding skills, fluency, and comprehension through engaging activities and decodable stories.
Level 3: Level 3 focuses on further expanding students' reading fluency and comprehension skills. It covers advanced phonics concepts, multi-syllable words, suffixes, prefixes, and more complex spelling rules. By the end of Level 3, students are reading confidently and independently.
Level 4: In Level 4, students refine their reading skills and tackle more challenging texts. This level emphasizes vocabulary development, comprehension strategies, and literary analysis. Students engage with a variety of genres and texts to deepen their understanding of language and literature.
Level 5: The final level of the curriculum, Level 5, focuses on advanced reading comprehension, critical thinking skills, and literary appreciation. Students read complex texts across different genres and learn to analyze and evaluate them effectively. By the end of Level 5, students have the skills and confidence to tackle any reading challenge they encounter as fluent readers.
Each level of All About Reading is carefully structured to build upon the previous level, ensuring a seamless progression towards reading proficiency. The curriculum and new material is designed to be flexible and adaptable to meet the individual needs of each child, making it suitable for learners of all abilities. With its engaging activities, decodable stories, and multi-sensory approach, All About Reading makes learning to read a joyful and rewarding experience for both children and parents alike.
What makes All About Reading stand out from the rest? Let's dive into the magic of this exceptional curriculum:
Multi-Sensory Approach: All About Reading understands that children learn best when they engage multiple senses. That's why the curriculum incorporates sight, sound, and touch into its lessons, making learning a truly immersive experience.
Sequential and Incremental: The curriculum is designed to build upon previously learned concepts in a logical and incremental manner. Each lesson lays a solid foundation for the next, ensuring that your child progresses at their own pace without feeling overwhelmed.
Customizable to Individual Needs: Whether your child is a struggling reader or an advanced learner, All About Reading can be tailored to meet their unique needs. With its flexible approach, you can easily adapt the curriculum to suit your child's learning style and pace.
Engaging Activities and Games: Learning to read should be enjoyable, and All About Reading understands this perfectly. The curriculum is packed with interactive games, activities, and decodable stories that keep children eagerly coming back for more.
Comprehensive and Easy to Use: From phonics and fluency to comprehension and spelling, All About Reading covers all the essential components of literacy in a user-friendly format. With clear instructions and minimal prep work required, homeschooling has never been easier.
Supportive Community: Homeschooling can sometimes feel isolating, but with All About Reading, you're never alone. Join a thriving community of homeschooling parents who are passionate about supporting each other and sharing their experiences.
Proven Results: Countless parents and educators have witnessed the transformative power of All About Reading in their children's literacy development. With its solid track record of success, you can trust that your child is in good hands.
The items included in the All About Reading curriculum package can vary depending on the level you purchase, but typically they include:
Teacher Guide and Manual: This comprehensive guide provides detailed lesson plans, teaching tips, teacher materials and instructions for each lesson. It outlines what to teach, how to teach it, and includes scripted lessons to make teaching easier for parents or educators. This complete overview is so helpful for teachers and parents that are working on the reading lessons with the kids.
All About Reading Student Packet: The activity book contains worksheets, activities, and practice pages that correspond to the lessons in the teacher's manual. These activities help young readers reinforce the concepts taught and provide opportunities for hands-on learning. If you are working on this in a small group or classroom setting you can buy the additional student packet.
Read-Aloud Books: Each level of All About Reading includes a set of engaging and decodable readers that gradually increase in difficulty as your child progresses. These books are specifically designed to align with the phonics concepts taught in the curriculum and provide opportunities for independent reading practice.
Magnetic Letter Tiles or Phonogram Flash Cards: Some levels of the curriculum come with letter tiles or phonogram cards that can be used for hands-on spelling and word-building activities. These manipulatives help reinforce phonics concepts and make learning interactive and fun.
Additional Resources: Depending on the level, the curriculum package may also include additional resources such as a magnetic whiteboard, activity sheets, stickers, or other supplementary materials to enhance the learning experience. Families / teachers will want to download the letter tiles app as well.
As for the cost, the price of the All About Reading curriculum varies depending on the level you choose and whether you purchase the materials individually or as part of a package. Prices can range from approximately $100 to $150 per level. It's worth noting that All About Learning Press occasionally offers discounts or promotions, so it's a good idea to check their website for current pricing and special offers. Additionally, some families may opt to purchase used curriculum materials from other homeschoolers or online marketplaces to save money.
All About Reading is based on the Orton-Gillingham approach. Lessons are designed to engage multiple senses, including visual, auditory, and kinesthetic/tactile, to help students make connections between letters, sounds, and words. This approach recognizes that individuals with dyslexia may have difficulty processing language in a typical, auditory-only format, so incorporating multiple senses can enhance learning and retention. The Orton-Gillingham approach follows a systematic, sequential progression of skills, starting with the most basic phonological and phonemic awareness skills and gradually building to more complex reading and spelling concepts. Lessons are structured to be cumulative, with each new concept building upon previously learned skills. Concepts are taught with scripted lesson plans, with clear explanations and demonstrations provided by the teacher or instructor. Students are guided through each step of the learning process, with ample opportunities for practice and reinforcement.
The time it takes to complete a level in All About Reading can vary depending on several factors, including the pace at which your child learns, the amount of time you dedicate to lessons each day, and any additional review or reinforcement needed. Here are some general considerations:
Frequency of Lessons: All About Reading is designed to be flexible, allowing you to tailor the pace of learning to your child's individual needs. Some families may choose to complete a little time on lessons daily or a daily review, while others may prefer a more relaxed schedule with lessons several times a week.
Lesson Length: The length of each lesson can vary depending on the level and the specific activities included. Generally, lessons in All About Reading are designed to be short and focused, typically lasting around 20 to 30 minutes. However, you may find that some lessons require more time, especially if your child needs extra practice or review.
Progression Through the Material: Each level of All About Reading is divided into multiple units or lessons, with new concepts introduced gradually and systematically. The pace at which your child progresses through the material will depend on their mastery of each concept and their ability to apply it in reading and spelling.
Individual Learning Pace: It's important to allow your child to progress at their own pace and not rush through the material. Some children may move quickly through the lessons, while others may need more time to fully grasp certain concepts. The goal is to ensure that your child has a solid understanding of each concept before moving on to the next.
Review and Reinforcement: All About Reading incorporates regular review and reinforcement activities to help solidify learning and ensure retention of concepts. Depending on your child's needs, you may need to spend additional time on review or provide extra practice to reinforce key skills.
Overall, there is no set timeframe for completing a level in All About Reading, as it will vary from child to child. The most important thing is to focus on understanding and mastery rather than rushing through the material. By providing consistent practice, support, and encouragement, you can help your child successfully complete each level of the curriculum at their own pace. The flexibility of this program is awesome and I have enjoyed using this curriculum with my young and older kids to prepare them and strengthen their reading!
So if you're ready to embark on a reading adventure like no other, why not give All About Reading a try? Your child's journey to literacy awaits! All About Reading is more than just a homeschool curriculum—it's a gateway to a world of literacy and learning. Give your child the gift of reading with All About Reading today!
Do I have to be a home school parent to use All About Reading?
NO. NO. NO. Even using 20 minutes a few days a week will create results. I bought All About Reading to continue to work on reading during the summer and continue to enhance his ability to independently read. You can use All About Reading curriculum with children who attend school out of the home as an added resource or as a home school curriculum.
