All About Spelling
A scripted, open-and-go spelling program from All About Learning Press that uses the Orton-Gillingham approach. Seven mastery-based levels teach phonograms, spelling rules and dictation with color-coded letter tiles and built-in review.
What is All About Spelling?
All About Spelling is a homeschool spelling curriculum from All About Learning Press, the Wisconsin publisher that also makes All About Reading. It teaches spelling with the Orton-Gillingham approach: kids hear, see and touch each concept. The publisher describes it as scripted and open-and-go, so parents don't need special training.
Instead of memorizing weekly lists, kids learn why words are spelled the way they are. Each lesson introduces one rule or pattern, and words that share it are taught together.
How it works
You teach one-on-one from the Teacher's Manual, which tells you what to say. A typical 20-minute session:
- Review flashcards from the Review Box, focusing on cards your child missed.
- Build new words with color-coded Letter Tiles to show the new rule.
- Write words, then phrases and sentences from dictation.
You don't have to finish a step in one day. Some steps take a week or more. Easy concepts can move quickly, and hard ones get more time. The Letter Tiles app ($19.99) can replace physical tiles if you'd rather work on a tablet.
What it covers
| Level | Key topics |
|---|---|
| 1 | First 32 phonograms, segmenting, short vowels, plurals |
| 2 | Silent e, r-controlled vowels, syllable types |
| 3 | Vowel teams, contractions, suffixes |
| 4 | tch, dge, ph, -tion, prefixes |
| 5 | ough, ei and ie, irregular plurals |
| 6 | mb, augh, -ible and -able, -ture |
| 7 | Latin and Greek roots, loan words |
Scope and sequence PDFs for every level are linked from the publisher's FAQ.
Who it's best for
It's ideal for struggling spellers, kids with dyslexia and parents who want every lesson planned. Older kids who missed phonics often start at Level 1 and move quickly.
It's a heavy lift for kids who spell well naturally. They may prefer the lighter, visual approach of Spelling You See or the independent online lessons of Sequential Spelling.
Pricing at a glance
As of October 2026, levels cost $49.95 to $69.95. Add one-time Letter Tiles and a Review Box, and starting Level 1 costs about $109. Direct orders come with a one-year money-back guarantee.
Can a scholarship or ESA pay for it?
Spelling curriculum is commonly an allowable expense in education savings accounts, such as those on our Arizona ESA page and Florida scholarship page, but each program decides. One detail matters: the publisher's one-year guarantee shrinks to 45 days on ESA- or scholarship-funded orders. Save All About Spelling to your wishlist and apply once through scholarships for families.
How it compares
See All About Spelling vs Spelling You See for the rules-versus-copywork debate. Logic of English also teaches phonograms and rules, and Spelling Shed adds game practice. Browse more spelling programs and programs for learning differences.
Who All About Spelling is for (and who it isn’t)
Best for
- Struggling spellers and kids with dyslexia
- Parents who want a script and zero lesson planning
- Older kids who need to fill spelling gaps from the start
- Families who will reuse materials with younger siblings
Look elsewhere if
- Natural spellers who learn words easily by sight
- Parents who can't teach one-on-one for 20 minutes a day
- Families who want independent workbook spelling
All About Spelling pros and cons
Pros
- Explains spelling rules, not just word lists
- Fully scripted, so no prep or OG training needed
- Built-in, individualized review
- Mastery-based, so kids move at their own pace
- One-year money-back guarantee on direct purchases
Cons
- Requires daily one-on-one parent teaching
- Buying all seven levels adds up
- Setup time to separate flashcards and organize tiles
- No handwriting instruction
What’s included
- Seven mastery-based levels that end at a high school spelling level
- Orton-Gillingham approach: auditory, visual and hands-on
- Color-coded Letter Tiles (physical or $19.99 app) to demonstrate rules
- Scripted Teacher's Manual with tips placed in each lesson
- Review Box with flashcards for individualized ongoing review
- Dictation of phrases and sentences instead of weekly tests
All About Spelling levels
| Level | Grades | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | By skill | The first 32 phonograms, segmenting words into sounds, short vowels, syllables, c or k, doubling f, l and s, plurals and compound words. |
| Level 2 | By skill | New phonograms like ee, er, ar, or and ou, silent-e words, and open, closed and r-controlled syllables. |
| Level 3 | By skill | Vowel teams such as ai, ay, oa and igh, contractions, consonant-le syllables and suffixes. |
| Level 4 | By skill | Patterns like tch, dge, kn, wr and ph, the -tion ending and prefixes. |
| Level 5 | By skill | Harder patterns including ough and ei versus ie, double suffixes and irregular plurals. |
| Level 6 | By skill | Advanced phonograms such as mb, gu and augh, plus -ible and -able, -ture and -ate. |
| Level 7 | By skill | Latin and Greek word parts, loan words, -ance versus -ence. Finishing it means spelling at a high school level, per the publisher. |
The free placement test helps choose a level. Because the program is mastery-based, not grade-based, the publisher says most students start in Level 1 and older kids simply move faster through early material.
Official All About Spelling placement test ↗How much does All About Spelling cost?
As of October 2026, All About Learning Press lists Level 1 Materials (Teacher's Manual plus Student Packet) at $64.95, Levels 2–4 at $69.95 each and Levels 5–7 at $49.95 each. Every family also needs Letter Tiles ($25.95) and a Review Box ($17.95), used for the whole program, so starting Level 1 costs about $108.85 before shipping. The Letter Tiles app is $19.99 per app store as an alternative to physical tiles.
| Plan | Price | Billed | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 Materials | $64.95 | One-time | — |
| Level 2, 3 or 4 Materials | $69.95 | One-time | — |
| Level 5, 6 or 7 Materials | $49.95 | One-time | — |
| Letter Tiles (one-time) | $25.95 | One-time | — |
| Review Box (one-time) | $17.95 | One-time | — |
| Letter Tiles app | $19.99 | One-time | — |
Prices from the provider, checked 2026-10-13. Always confirm on the official site.
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All About Spelling FAQs
What grade level is All About Spelling?
It isn't grade-based. The publisher recommends starting after your child has a strong start in reading, and most students begin at Level 1 even if they're older. After Level 7, students spell at a high school level.
Is All About Spelling good for dyslexia?
It uses the Orton-Gillingham approach, the structured, multisensory method developed for dyslexic learners, and the publisher says it's very effective for struggling learners. Many families of dyslexic kids use it, but check with your child's specialist if they have an intervention plan.
How long does an All About Spelling lesson take?
The publisher recommends about 20 minutes a day. You don't finish a whole step each day; some steps take a week or more, depending on your child.
Is All About Spelling Christian or secular?
The lessons don't include religious content, and reviewers such as Cathy Duffy describe it as secular. Families of any faith background can use it as written.
What do I need to buy to start All About Spelling?
Level 1 Materials ($64.95), Letter Tiles ($25.95) and a Review Box ($17.95), as of October 2026. The tiles and box are one-time purchases used through all seven levels, and they also work with All About Reading.
Can I return All About Spelling?
Direct purchases have a one-year return window for a full refund, minus shipping. If you paid with ESA or state scholarship funds, the window is 45 days. Orders from other retailers follow that store's policy.
All About Spelling or Spelling You See?
All About Spelling teaches rules explicitly with letter tiles and scripted lessons. Spelling You See skips rules and word lists and builds visual memory through copywork and dictation. Rule-based learners and dyslexic kids often do better with All About Spelling.
Sources and last checked
Checked 2026-10-13 against these sources:
- allaboutlearningpress.com · all about spelling
- allaboutlearningpress.com · all about spelling level 1 materials
- allaboutlearningpress.com · letter tiles
- allaboutlearningpress.com · review box
- allaboutlearningpress.com · letter tiles app
- allaboutlearningpress.com · spelling placement
- allaboutlearningpress.com · faq
- homeschoolpicks.com · all about spelling review