All About Spelling for Dyslexia: Does It Actually Work?

Why Spelling Gets Its Own Programme

Spelling often lags behind reading in dyslexic children. Reading is recognition — your child sees the word stamp and matches it against phonological patterns they already know. Spelling is recall — they have to reconstruct the exact phoneme-grapheme string from long-term memory. A child who decodes at a 4th-grade level can spell at a 1st-grade level, and that gap is common in dyslexia.

This is why pairing All About Reading with its companion, All About Spelling (AAS), appeals to so many homeschool parents. They share the same multisensory, Orton-Gillingham-aligned framework, so the letter tiles, phonogram cards, and scripted lessons feel familiar.

What All About Spelling Covers

AAS runs through 7 levels, covering short vowels and basic consonants in Level 1 through Latin roots and advanced suffixing rules in Level 7. Each lesson follows a predictable sequence: review cards, teach a new spelling rule, build words with letter tiles, then dictate words and sentences for the child to write.

The programme explicitly teaches orthographic rules that dyslexic learners need drilled — the Floss Rule (doubling f, l, s, z after a short vowel), the 1-1-1 Doubling Rule, Silent E conventions, and the Y-to-I Changing Rule. These rules are not intuitive for any child, and for a dyslexic child who cannot rely on visual memory of word shapes, explicit rule instruction is the only reliable path.

Parent prep runs about 5 to 10 minutes per lesson. Sessions take 15 to 20 minutes — short enough to stack after a reading lesson without cognitive overload.

Where AAS Works Well

The tile-based word building is the programme's strongest feature. When a child changes stamp to stomp to stump by swapping one tile at a time, they are analysing sound shifts rather than memorising whole words. This is exactly the kind of multisensory encoding practice that builds orthographic mapping in dyslexic learners.

The scripting is thorough enough that you do not need a teaching degree. Every prompt is written word-for-word. If your child gets stuck, the manual tells you what to say.

The mastery-based pacing means you do not move on until your child can consistently spell the current pattern set. A child who still cannot retain basic sound-symbol correspondences after 60 or more explicit multisensory repetitions may need a change in instruction or professional consultation.

Where AAS Falls Short

All About Spelling is a separate spelling program; it does not require All About Reading. If you are using Barton, Logic of English, or UFLI for reading, check both scope-and-sequences so spelling patterns are introduced in a useful order for your child.

AAS has 7 levels, with Level 7 introducing Latin roots and Greek word parts. It is a spelling curriculum, so a student who needs deeper work with academic vocabulary and morphology may need additional instruction after Level 7.

The physical tile management is another friction point. Setting up and storing the colour-coded tiles, phonogram cards, and word bank adds handling time that some families find tedious. An iPad tile app is available, which reduces the setup overhead.

AAS vs Barton Spelling

Barton integrates reading and spelling in a single programme — you never buy separate curricula. Its spelling dictation exercises are more intensive, with longer word lists and complex sentences. But Barton costs roughly $550 per level across 10 levels, while AAS runs $40 to $60 per level across 7 levels.

Barton integrates reading and spelling in one programme, so adding AAS may duplicate instruction; compare both sequences before combining them. If your child is using All About Reading, AAS is a natural companion.

Is AAS Enough on Its Own?

No. AAS is a spelling programme, not a reading programme. Your child still needs a dedicated structured literacy curriculum for decoding — whether that is All About Reading, Barton, UFLI, or Logic of English. Spelling practice reinforces reading, but it cannot replace the explicit phonics instruction, decodable text reading, and fluency work that a decoding programme provides.

For tracking progress, administer a quarterly spelling inventory — something like the Words Their Way Feature Inventory — to score which orthographic features your child has mastered. Do not judge reading progress by spelling performance. They are separate skills on separate timelines.

The Decision

All About Spelling is a solid, affordable encoding programme for dyslexic learners who need explicit rule instruction. It pairs naturally with All About Reading, can be used without it, and may need additional morphology instruction after Level 7 if your child needs it.

The Dyslexia Homeschooling Blueprint includes a programme-matching decision matrix that maps your child's specific profile — working memory, attention, co-occurring dysgraphia, budget — to the curriculum combination most likely to work without expensive trial-and-error.