Are you looking for a reading program to increase your child’s reading fluency? Something that will give him reading skills and a love for reading? Maybe you’ve heard about All About Reading and are wondering if All About Reading Level 2 is the best option for your family.
The very first time you heard your child read was one of the most thrilling experiences. Being involved in teaching her made it all the more special. But you know that learning how to read is a process. And just because your child is reading sat, cat and mat doesn’t mean she is ready to read a full-length novel or even Henry and Mudge.
So now you are on the hunt for a program that will take your child to that next level of reading. And you want something tried and true. Something proven, high-quality and, if possible, fun!
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share this in-depth, honest review of our personal experience using All About Reading Level 2. Whether or not you decide to use All About Reading in your homeschool I know you are a conscientious mom who will make the best choice for her family.
This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.
Ready for more info? Let’s rock ‘n roll…..
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The All About Reading Approach
What I Like Most About AAR Level 2
Questions and Concerns Answered
My Experience
We have been using About Learning Press products for the past five and a half years and they are one of my top picks for a curriculum company.
I first purchased All About Spelling Level 1 in 2012 and since then we have used All About Spelling 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 and All About Reading Pre-reading, 1, 2 and 3. So, I’m very familiar with their products and honestly kind of a raving fan. They are one of two curriculum companies that I’ve stuck with since the very beginning so clearly I’ve been very pleased with their products.
My three children have made great progress while using their curriculum. My twin 7-year-old girls just finished All About Reading Level 2 with great success. Which is part of the reason why I am so excited to tell you all about it!
My son also completed AAR Level 2 several years ago but he was already a pretty fluent reader and whizzed right through it. I was able to get a better feel for the learning process this time around with my girls. It has gone so well that we will begin All About Reading Level 3 later this month.
The All About Reading approach to teaching reading
All About Reading is a multisensory program so your child will learn through sight, sound, and touch. It’s their goal to have your child know what they are reading instead of guessing so each concept is built upon the one before it. This means that nothing is skipped and there are no gaps when using this program!
It is recommended that you take just 20 minutes per day to work with your child on a lesson. Once you reach 20 minutes you can stop and start back up again the next day.
The five components that the program teaches are:
- Phonological Awareness
- Phonics and Decoding
- Fluency
- Vocabulary
- Comprehension
In this program spelling is taught separately from reading. All About Learning Press separates them because they know that your child needs different skills for reading and for spelling. They aren’t willing to sacrifice one for the other and want your child to be fluent in both. All About Spelling can be purchased separately if you decide to use it.
What I like most about All About Reading Level 2
- It works! Based on my children’s response to this curriculum I am confident that I am raising lifelong readers!
- This program was the perfect resource with the tools and guidance I needed to teach my girls how to read.
- The lessons are short and manageable. If your child needs more time then you can easily break up the lesson into two, three or more days.
- Kids enjoy AAR because of the short lessons, hands-on learning and a method that actually brings them success (their smiles and confidence say it all!)
- The teacher’s manual is laid out in a very easy to understand format that takes you through everything step-by-step. Perfect for busy moms who don’t want to spend a ton of time trying to figure out what exactly they are supposed to be teaching.
- Very minimal prep time needed. Again, perfect for busy homeschool moms!
- This curriculum is fun which makes it a wonderful tool for connecting with your kids in a meaningful way.
- If you purchase the level 2 materials with interactive reading kit you will have pretty much everything you need without having to track down a bunch of additional books, materials, etc. (If you don’t already have a magnetic white board then that would be the one thing you’ll need to additionally purchase.)
>>> Click to order All About Reading Level 2 Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. <<<
Components of All About Reading Level 2
Learning Activity Book with Activity Sheets & Reading Practice Sheets
Lessons are reinforced with hands-on activity sheets for the learner. Most of the activity sheets are simple and fun and take a very short amount of time to complete. Prep time is usually just a couple of minutes of cutting.
Your child will have an opportunity to practice the words they learned in the lesson with previous words by reading through these sheets. These can be read through in one sitting or broken up into several reading sessions.
Teacher’s Manual
The All About Reading Level 2 Teacher’s Manual is so easy to use. It perfectly walks you through each lesson and is lightly scripted so you can say what they suggest or use your own words.
There are 51 Lessons included in AAR Level 2 and each lessons typically contains the same elements. Included are: review, new teaching, activity sheet, word cards, practice sheets, read aloud (of your choice) and progress chart. If a story is to be read by the child then the lesson is slightly different with vocabulary, discussion and comprehension included.
Readers
The AAR Level 2 readers include short but engaging stories and nice illustrations. Plus it gives you a great opportunity to snuggle up with your little reader.
Phonogram Cards
Your child can practice the letter sounds with these bright colored Phonogram Cards.
Word Cards (flashcards)
Word Cards are included for you to review with your child. You can use these like ordinary flashcards or create games to make it more fun!
The cards with frogs on them are called “Leap Words”. This means that a letter in the word doesn’t say what it normally says. Or because the child hasn’t learned a particular rule yet.
Physical Letter Tiles (Magnetic White Board to put the tiles on purchased separately) or Letter Tiles App
Either method gives your child the opportunity to use their fingers to touch the letters and sound out words. A simple but brilliant approach to help them master reading.
Progress Chart with Stickers
Because who doesn’t like to receive a sticker for their hard work?!
I copied progress charts for my girls onto colored paper ~ just for fun. 🙂
Questions and Concerns about AAR Level 2 Answered
Can I get a sample of All About Reading Level 2?
There are downloadable product samples on the All About Learning Press website so you can see how what the lessons and activities look like. I personally never saw their products in person before ordering but I didn’t find it necessary because of the nice variety of samples right on their site.
Is there a Scope and Sequence?
Yes! You will know exactly what your child will be learning by downloading the scope and sequence from the All About Learning Press website.
What if I didn’t use AAR Level 1 with my child?
All About Learning Press offers a free downloadable placement test. If your child didn’t use AAR Level 1 but you think Level 2 would be the best option for them, you can check by downloading the free placement test. Click this link to the All About Reading Level 2 product page and then scroll down until you see the button “Download Placement Test”. Then follow the instructions in the document.
If you find that your child isn’t quite ready for Level 2, that is ok! Maybe have them start with Level 1 and that way you can be confident that you are giving them a strong foundation in reading. If you really aren’t sure, All About Learning Press offers great customer support so you can always contact them directly for their recommendation.
The cost of the AAR curriculum is more than I planned to spend…
We all have different budgets and need to make the right decision for our own family. So I can’t speak to what’s right for your family. But I can say that AAR products have been totally worth the money for us. They have given our kids a strong start in reading as they’ve grown in fluency, confidence and their overall love for reading.
Another thing to keep in mind is that you can sell the Teacher’s Manual and Readers when you are finished with them. Pre-owned AAR products usually sell for a fair amount on Ebay and other buy/sell sites.
What if I order AAR Level 2 and then find that it isn’t a good fit?
All About Learning Press has an extremely generous return policy on their products. You can order and try their products for a full year and if you aren’t satisfied you can return them in any condition. Wow! I think that says a lot about their integrity and how much they believe in their products. So, there really isn’t any risk in giving their curriculum a chance.
What if I have questions once I start using the curriculum?
Hooray for lifetime support! The folks at All About Learning Press are dedicated to providing good customer service and helping their customers. I’ve emailed them questions and always received a thorough response back, usually within a day. Once you purchase their products you have access to support forever…you can’t beat that!!
What if I have more questions you didn’t answer?
Head on over to the All About Learning Press website for a complete list of questions and answers.
>>> Click to order All About Reading Level 2 Full Disclosure: We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase, at no additional cost to you. <<<
Once you get started with All About Reading Level 2 I’d love to hear how it’s going! Take a photo of your sweet kiddo enjoying their new curriculum and tag me on your Instagram post. You can find me on Instagram @thelearnjourney.
Happy reading!!! 🙂
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