TOS Review: All About Reading Level 1

Teaching children to read is one of the scariest things for homeschooling moms.  It sounds easy enough, so why do we worry so much?  We know that if we fail at teaching them to read, they will struggle with everything else.  We want to provide our children with the best education possible and a huge part of that is the ability to read.  Parents who are teaching a child who is already struggling to read due to dyslexia or other reading problems carry a heavier weight.  Especially when you have a child that wants so badly to be able to read and their brain simply cannot make sense of the letters and blending them together.  I have had the opportunity to review All About Learning Press's All About Reading Level One program and it has been a huge answer to prayer!

I already was a huge fan of their All About Spelling program, and can't even put into words how excited I was to be able to review All About Reading Level One.  I really wanted to try it out with my 6 year old son who is ready to learn how to read and with my dyslexic 8 year old son who wants to be able to read  but has been having trouble blending and making the connection between letters and their sounds (although he has made huge improvements since we started  All About Spelling Level 1.)  Not only did we receive the complete set of All About Reading Level One to review, we also received the Deluxe Reading Interactive Kit!

All About Reading is a complete, comprehensive, scripted open and go reading program based on the Orton-Gillingham approach and latest research.  It is mastery based and customizable so children can go at their own pace and feel a sense of accomplishment.  The multi sensory approach teaches children the way they learn best through sight, sound, and touch.

When you order  All About Reading Level One ($99.95) you will receive 5 items:

Teacher's Manual click here for a sample
Student Packet (including activity book) click here for a sample
Run Bug Run Reader click here for a sample
The Runt Pig Reader click here for a sample
Cobweb the Cat Reader click here for a sample


You also can choose to buy the materials individually or purchase an extra activity book if you are using the program with more than one student.  To order click here.

To teach with the All About Reading method, you will need to purchase one of the Interactive Kits.  It is a non consumable one time purchase that can be used with the other levels of All About Reading.  The Deluxe Interactive Kit ($48.95) includes:

Letter Tiles
Magnets for letter tiles
Basic Phonograms  CD- Rom (for PC or Mac)
Reading Divider Cards
Reading Review Box
Reading Tote Bag
Star Stickers

You can also order the Basic Interactive Kit ($28.95) which includes the first 4 items of the Deluxe Kit or any of the components separately.  To order click here.

 Anthony (6) and Alex's  (8) reading abilities are very close together.  We have been able to work together with the All About Reading program by taking turns reading word cards, doing activities, and reading.  They even take turns putting stickers on the progress chart. I have enjoyed being able to work with them  and watch them helping each other out.

There are so many different kinds of reading programs that are available.  What is it about All About Reading that makes it special?  Here is what I love about the All About Reading program:

• The plans are written in such a way that there is no teacher preparation required for the daily lessons.  We just open the book and go.  The only preparation is when the curriculum arrives.  You will need about an hour to put the magnets on your letters and set up your board and reading box (more about that in a minute.)   

• With the exception of the student activity book and star stickers, the materials are non consumable and able to be used with multiple children.  

• The program teaches how children learn best through sight, sound, and touch.  The idea of using letter manipulatives is ingenious!  The magnets have made the connection for my dyslexic son and finally made reading make sense to him.

• The activities in the activity book are fun!  My boys loved feeding words to the monster, playing a gift box game, and matching words with pictures.

• The readers are hard cover, beautifully illustrated stories.  The books are very sturdy and will definitely last through multiple children.  My boys are so proud to have a book that they can read all by themselves!

• The program is complete teaching 5 different components of reading: phonological awareness, phonics and decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension with each lesson building on the one before.

• It is customizable to the child.  You continuously review words and sounds until they are mastered.  Each lesson begins with the items that need to be reviewed before going on to new teaching.

• I enjoy teaching it!  So often I get burned out teaching things that I find boring.  All About Reading makes it fun for them and me!

•  All About Learning Press has a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee.  You have one full year to try out their program.  If at any time during that year you find the program does not meet your needs you can return the materials for a full refund no questions asked!  You will also get lifetime support.  If you ever have a question or problem they are there to help.

•  What I love most about All About Reading, is that it works!  Both my 6 year old and 8 year old are now able to read!  I can't even fully explain what that means to both my 8 year old and I, especially since I feared he would never would be able to read.  We have completed lesson 19 out of 49 and I am so impressed already with what they are learning and reading everyday. 

You may be wondering if there is anything else you will need to use the program.  A magnetic white erase board is helpful , although not completely necessary.  If you have a magnetic board, you can leave your letters set up making your lesson time easier.  If you do not have one or want to buy one, you can use the letters on your table top and put them away when you are finished.  Also, you will need a box for your sound and word cards.  A box comes with the Deluxe Interactive Kit, but an index card box will work just fine.  You will also need crayons (if your child likes to color), scissors, and glue.  We keep these supplies stored in our All About Reading tote bag with all of our All About Reading books and cards.  My boys like to save their worksheets after they finish them, so we punch holes in them and place them in a 3 ring binder. 

Other items available from All About Learning Press include: All About Reading Pre-One ( I am planning on buying it for my Pre-K and Kindergartner next year) and All About Spelling (we use it and love it!)

To see what other crew mates had to say click here.

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Crew, I received a complimentary set of All About Reading Level One materials and Deluxe Interactive Kit for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation.



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