I first heard about All About Spelling through a fellow IEW exhibitor. She was recommending it as a precursor to IEW’s Phonetic Zoo. With at least one of her children dealing with dyslexia, I figured she would know a good spelling program when she saw it. I considered purchasing it for this year, but decided to try a different program instead, since I could purchase one book and use it for all of my kids, all the way through. I was excited to give All About Spelling a try through the Crew and set aside Spelling Power.
I received both levels 1 and 2, but we have not progressed into Level 2 yet. I’ve been using level 1 with my five and seven year olds. According to their website, I could begin even my 10 year old in level 1 and quickly move through it, but he is spelling at a seventh grade level. He is participating in the home school spelling bee, so that is taking all his spelling time right now. I hope to use this program with him at a higher level once the spelling bee is over in January.
Level One begins with a review of all the phonograms, making an excellent transition from pure phonics to spelling. It is providing a much-needed review for my seven year old, who began reading fluently last year. I admit that I didn’t continue the phonics program with her once she began reading, because the lessons were frustrating both of us. I regretted that once she began spelling, because she didn’t know how to spell many words that she can read. All About Spelling is providing a great review of single sounds, blends, and patterns that will help her segment the words and know the letters that make up the words. I’ve also begun level one with my five year old, but she is still learning all the phonograms.
The book shown above is the teacher’s manual. All the lessons are scripted, with supplies needed noted at the top of each. Each lesson contains clear instructions, tips, and reminders. I have found the lesson very easy to follow. In level one, the first three lessons, called “steps,” are designed to be repeated until the student masters the concepts. Once those are mastered, you move through the additional 21 lessons at your child’s own pace. It may take a week to master some lessons. Because they don’t use grades in classifying their materials, students of all ages may use level one.
I love the activities that this program incorporates. So many spelling programs begin with writing the words, but this one begins with segmenting the words by their sounds, first using tokens to “pull down” on each sound and then using letter tiles. This allows her to picture the words and sounds in her head and speak them without the pressure of writing them out. The author, Marie Rippel, also suggests additional multi-sensory activities, including writing the letters in a bag of pudding and then eating it!
All the materials needed for these activities are including in the student packets and the starter kit. At the moment we are sharing a student packet between the girls, because the older one has mastered all the phonograms and the little one is still working on them. I will probably have to purchase an additional student packet as we move through the levels. With other programs, I was required to make these materials myself. I like having all the materials premade for me, including flashcards that are perforated and spelling tiles that come laminated, ready for me to cut out and apply the magnets, which are also supplied. The only thing I have to purchase is a magnet board that is large enough to hold all the tiles.
Each level includes a teacher’s manual and a student materials packet. Level One costs $29.95, with all subsequent levels costing $39.95. For the first year, you also need a starter kit, $31.95, which includes the phonogram tiles, a CD-ROM with the phonograms, and magnets for the tiles. Each additional student packet costs $14.95 per level. All of these materials are non-consumable, so you only need to purchase additional student packets if you have two students working at the same level.
I’ve passed my other spelling book on to my husband’s cousin who was curious about the program. I won’t be asking for it back. I’m looking forward to using All About Spelling with the rest of my children. They have published through level 5 and level 6, which is high school level is due out later this year.
