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All About Spelling
by All About Learning Press (website )
Multisensory Orton-Gillingham based spelling program with scripted lessons for struggling learners.
Best Fit For
Children who struggle with spelling despite strong reading. Students with dyslexia benefiting from Orton-Gillingham. Families frustrated by traditional word-list memorization. Parents willing to spend 15-20 minutes daily leading lessons. Households with multiple children who can reuse materials.
Not Recommended For
Families seeking independent spelling practice. Parents wanting grade-level curriculum by age. Those on tight budgets. Students who thrive with variety. Families preferring digital-only curriculum.
What Reviewers Say
All About Spelling earns consistently enthusiastic reviews for its systematic, rules-based approach. Unlike traditional spelling with weekly word lists and Friday tests, AAS teaches phonograms and spelling rules so students can spell any word. The Orton-Gillingham methodology with color-coded letter tiles engages multiple learning styles. Cathy Duffy includes it in Top Picks, noting 'incremental teaching and multisensory approach help students be successful.' Parents report increased confidence in struggling spellers. Common concerns: initial cost, tedious card preparation, and requirement for daily parental involvement.
How It Works
Parents follow a scripted manual to lead 15-to-20-minute daily sessions at a kitchen table or magnetic whiteboard. The child uses color-coded letter tiles to build words, physically manipulating the sounds they hear before moving to paper-and-pencil practice. Each lesson includes a brief review of previous flashcards followed by the introduction of a new spelling rule, such as when to use 'ck' instead of 'k.' Because the program is mastery-based rather than calendar-based, you simply stop when the child’s attention fades and pick up exactly where you left off the next day.
Switching to This?
The publisher provides a detailed placement flowchart on their website, but the community rule of thumb is to start with Level 1 regardless of the child's age to ensure they learn the foundational phonograms and rules. Families can easily transition mid-year because the lessons are open-and-go and do not rely on a standard 36-week school schedule. When switching from a curriculum that uses traditional weekly word lists, parents should expect a much slower pace initially as the child learns to explain the 'why' behind spelling rather than just memorizing letter sequences. If a student is already a strong reader but a poor speller, Level 1 will move quickly, but it remains the recommended starting point to fill in hidden knowledge gaps.
Curriculum Details
- Price
- $49 - $500
- Grades
- 1 - 12
- Available As
- Coverage
- Single subject
- Subjects
- Reading/Language Arts
- Pacing
- Self-paced
- Parent Time
- 10-20 min/day
- Parent Involvement
- None
- Student Independence
- Needs instruction
- Academic Level
- Grade level
- Worldview
- Neutral
- Engaging for Reluctant Learners
- Yes
Level 1 $64.95, Levels 2-4 $69.95, Levels 5-7 $49.95. Letter Tiles $25.95, Spelling Review Box $17.95 (one-time). Total all 7 levels ~$450-500. Non-consumable teacher manuals reusable.
Videos
How To Use All About Spelling || Homeschool Curriculum Review & Flip Through
by Living With Eve
Reviews We Consulted
Notes that the logical, step-by-step approach and short 15-minute lessons make it easy to use and highly effective for retention across various ages.
"No matter what you call it, the logical, step-by-step, review-integrated approach really helps kids retain what they've learned. It's a very flexible program."
Highly recommends the multisensory Orton-Gillingham approach for various learning styles, though it notes the program lacks the games and songs found in some alternatives.
"While AAS is not as multisensory as a program that includes songs and games, it should meet the learning styles of most children. And it uniquely incorporates multi-sensory learning throughout the program, not just for young students."
Appreciates the focus on logic and "why" over rote memorization, specifically noting the refreshing lack of traditional busywork like word searches.
"All About Spelling uses a multi sensory approach to teach kids the HOW and WHY of spelling."
Praised as an exceptionally effective tool for struggling spellers, though reviewers caution that the lessons are very parent-intensive and do not allow for independent study.
"This is a program that requires the parent to teach the child, so if you are looking for a curriculum where your student can work independent this may not be it, but this is a great program and I will keep using it throughout elementary years."
Values the kinesthetic and auditory components that allow students to master spelling rules without repetitive "drill and kill" writing exercises or busywork.
"You won't be introducing a word and then writing it a 'million' times. You won't have to use it in a sentence, and unscramble it, or find it in a crossword. The child is hearing the word, seeing the word, writing the word and touching the word."
Highlights the program's success with dyslexia and praises the scripted nature of the lessons for making instruction stress-free while rapidly building student confidence.
"Using All About Spelling with my son has been enjoyable for me and so helpful for him! His confidence in his spelling ability has increased tremendously in a short period of time."
Updated: March 2026
How This Compares
When compared to Spelling You See, which uses copywork and color-coding to build visual memory, All About Spelling is much more analytical and rules-based. Against Phonetic Zoo, the primary difference is the delivery method; Phonetic Zoo is designed for independent auditory learning via audio tracks, whereas All About Spelling requires a parent to be present and active throughout the entire lesson. Parents choosing between All About Spelling and Logic of English often find that AAS is a better fit if they already have a separate reading or grammar program they love, as Logic of English is a more intensive 'all-in-one' curriculum. Compared to Spelling Power, which uses one large book for all ages and focuses on testing, AAS is more incremental and multisensory, making it better for students who are easily overwhelmed. Finally, while traditional workbooks like Spelling Connections focus on a Friday test cycle, AAS focuses on mastery, meaning a child does not move on until they can apply a rule consistently in their everyday writing.
Getting Started
Find Your Level
Features a flowchart and a segmenting test to help parents decide whether to start a student at Level 1 or Level 2.
Purchase
The primary page to purchase Teacher Manuals, Student Packets, and the required Interactive Kits directly from the publisher.
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