Logic of English vs All About Reading: Which Is Better for Dyslexia?

Two Popular Programs, Very Different Demands

Logic of English (LOE) and All About Reading (AAR) both claim Orton-Gillingham alignment, both use multisensory instruction, and both show up on every "best dyslexia curriculum" list. But they are not interchangeable. One asks significantly more of the teaching parent, targets a different age range, and assumes a different cognitive profile in the child.

This is a non-affiliate comparison. Neither program pays us, and the goal is to help you match the right curriculum to your child — not to sell you the one with the highest commission.

How Each Program Is Structured

All About Reading is split into a reading track (AAR Levels Pre-1 through 4) and a separate spelling track, All About Spelling (AAS Levels 1–7). AAR level materials cost $150–$200; AAS level materials are about $50–$70 per level. You teach reading and spelling as distinct subjects, using color-coded letter tiles and fully decodable readers that ship with each level.

Lessons are scripted word-for-word. Daily prep takes about five minutes — pull the cards, set up the tiles. A typical lesson runs 20–30 minutes. No teaching experience required.

Logic of English comes in two tracks. Foundations (A through D) covers ages 4–7. Essentials targets ages 8 through adult — the track most relevant for an older struggling reader. Complete sets run $100–$180 per level. LOE integrates phonics, morphology, handwriting, grammar, and vocabulary into a single programme rather than separating reading and spelling.

The teacher manual is dense and offers multiple track options (A, B, or C depending on student needs). Parent prep runs 15–20 minutes per lesson, and daily sessions take 40–60 minutes.

Cost Comparison

LOE looks cheaper per level, but the total parent time investment is roughly double. For a family where one parent can dedicate an hour each day to structured literacy alone, LOE may be worth it. For families juggling multiple children or a tight schedule, AAR's shorter, lower-prep lessons are more sustainable over a two-to-three-year remediation timeline.

Which Child Does Each Program Fit?

AAR works best for younger struggling readers (ages 5–9) or children who need gentle, incremental steps. The decodable readers are engaging. The tile-based encoding is tactile without being overwhelming. The pacing is slow enough that a child with severe phonological deficits can build mastery before moving on.

The ceiling is the issue: AAR tops out at roughly a third- or fourth-grade decoding level. A child who starts AAR at age 8 and progresses well will need to transition to a different curriculum (Barton, LOE Essentials, or UFLI for bridging) to cover advanced syllable types, morphology, and Latin roots.

LOE Essentials works best for analytical older learners (ages 8 through adult) who want to understand why English spelling works the way it does. LOE teaches all 74 basic phonograms and 31 spelling rules explicitly. For a child who asks "but why does 'tion' say /shun/?" — LOE provides the answer. The grammar integration means you are not buying separate language arts materials.

The risk: LOE's cognitive load is high. The student workbooks are visually dense. The multi-track teacher manual can overwhelm a parent who has never taught reading before. Children with significant working memory deficits or ADHD co-occurrence may struggle with the lesson length and complexity.

What About Severe Dyslexia?

Neither AAR nor LOE was designed as a clinical-grade dyslexia intervention the way Barton was. Both can work for mild-to-moderate dyslexia when delivered consistently 4–5 days per week.

For severe dyslexia — a child who fails the Barton Student Screening, cannot segment three-sound words, or has stalled for more than a year on basic CVC decoding — consider Barton first. It costs more ($350 for Levels 1–2 and $400 for Levels 3–10, or $3,900 for all 10 levels before tax and shipping) but provides the intensity and rigour that severe phonological deficits require.

If Barton's visual austerity and slow pacing drive your child to tears (a common complaint), AAR with supplemental nonsense-word drills is a reasonable alternative for children whose dyslexia is moderate rather than profound.

The Honest Trade-Off

AAR gives you a shorter daily commitment, lower prep time, and a gentler on-ramp — but you will outgrow it and need a second programme for advanced decoding.

LOE gives you a comprehensive, all-in-one language arts system that carries through advanced morphology — but it demands more of the parent, more of the child, and more daily time.

If you are choosing between the two and your child is under 9, start with AAR. If your child is 8 or older and you have the bandwidth for longer sessions, LOE Essentials is worth the steeper learning curve.

Either way, the programme matters less than the consistency. Four days a week of structured, explicit phonics instruction — in either curriculum — will produce measurable gains within 8–12 weeks. The Dyslexia Homeschooling Blueprint includes a decision worksheet that maps your child's specific profile (age, severity, co-occurring conditions, budget) to the programme most likely to stick.