All About Reading Review

Warning: This is a long review because I have much to explain.  You can skim to the bold print words “What We Think” for my opinion if you’re in a hurry.  We all have those days.

I have lots of little ones running around my house: one child who can read well (age 9), two who are in the middle of the learning to read process (ages 5 and 6), and three little boys ages 3, 2, and 4 months.  My 3 year old Daniel tags along on everything his older siblings do, including trying to read, so he was beyond thrilled when a review item arrived just for him.  All About Reading sent us their Level Pre-1 materials as part our work on the TOS Homeschool Crew. 

Our package included:

• Teacher’s Manual
• My Book of Letters activity book (192 pages)
• Capital Letter Alphabet Chart
• Lowercase Letter Alphabet Chart
• Picture cards and Letter Sound cards
• Activity Box and Dividers (to hold cards)
• Letter Sounds A to Z CD-ROM
• Ziggy the Zebra puppet-high quality and silky soft 
• Tote Bag
• The Zigzag Zebra hardback reader and audio book
• Lizard Lou hardback reader and audio book

Setup was simple.  First we had to choose a place to display the current alphabet chart.  Next I spent about 15 minutes separating the perforated cards and filing them in the activity box behind each divider.  Then I read the first lesson.  (See, I told you it was simple!)

The theory behind the program is that while playing games, doing craft sheets, and listening to good stories a child can work on the “Big Five Skills”.  These essential pre-reading skills are:

1. Print Awareness
2. Phonological Awareness
3. Letter Knowledge
4. Listening Comprehension
5. Motivation to Read

You can read more about those in the teacher’s guide sample available near the bottom of this page.  I highly recommend you check out the samples after you read my review because they are very generous samples.  You get a really great look at how it all works in each part.  The program is divided into 3 parts, Capital Letters, Lowercase Letters, and the Sounds of Letters. 

Each day’s lesson consists of a few basic activities, developing a wonderful routine my son came to look forward to each day.  You sing the alphabet song together while looking at the Alphabet Chart.  Your child is introduced to the letter of the day by seeing it, snuggling up with you as you read the poem for the letter in The Zigzag Zebra reader(for capital letters) or Lizard Lou (for lowercase letters).  We have our zebra puppet read these to Daniel. 

The craft sheet for parts one and two is a letter page.  On the back of each sheet are instructions to make the page into a fun craft.  For example, on capital L you color the letter and a llama with crayons, then glue small pieces of yarn on the llama to make it more sensory.  On lowercase L the picture is several different leaves.  Beforehand(or with your child, breaking the activity into two days) you are to trace each leaf with a bottle of squeeze glue and allow to dry.  You child then colors the leaves and raised glue edges different fall colors.  This becomes a sensory way to interact with what could have been just a coloring page.  On some days if all you want is a coloring page then use it that way, but on other days use the craft instructions for the sheet.  I suggest reading ahead a week or two to gather craft materials if you wish to do this daily.

Following the activity sheet you are directed to page 195 of the teacher’s manual to choose another hands-on activity to do with the letter each day.  This is great for the really hands on children.  Daniel’s favorite activity in this section is drawing letters in salt.  We even made a salt box so I, Mommy, had no excuses.  A large plastic container with a flat bottom, salt, and a lid - it works wonders and gives him a sensory way to practice forming those letters.

The next part of the lesson usually utilizes the activity cards to play a game.  The child is instructed by the puppet, Ziggy the Zebra (there is even a script for you), or the game itself is played with the puppet.  The games vary, but many focus on rhyming.  Daniel’s favorite game so far has been “Get out of the Wagon”.  We grab the picture cards for the day and place 3 on the picture of a wagon.  Two of the pictures rhyme.  His job is to find the one that does not and make it get out of the wagon.  In the beginning this was a very difficult thing for him to do.  However, the teacher’s manual gave great instructions for how to give the child extra help as they began getting the hang of rhyming.

In part 3 things change a bit.  The activity sheets take on a new dimension.  The letter and character are pictured at the top with three empty boxed beneath.  At the very bottom of the page are four pictures.  The child is to cut out the four items and glue the three that begin with the day’s sound in the empty boxes.  The game at this point in the program is called “What Am I?”.  You share a 1 paragraph story emphasizing the sound and ask two riddles about things that begin with the sound for that day.   

Read to your child for 20 minutes is the last assignment of the day in every level.  It is something I think might be easy to skip over in a busy family but I encourage you to make the time.  Please do it!  Some days the lesson plan just reminds you to read to your child.  Other days give you ideas of what to read (poems, picture books, nonfiction, works of one author) or information about the importance of reading aloud to a child.  I’ll say it one more time – please read aloud to your child every day!  It is something I am passionate about.  Remember that 20 minutes is the minimum, once that becomes easy you can do more.  We aim for 2 hours a day with our children, much of which is the whole family together.   

What We Think: 

This is the perfect program for a child who still needs to learn their letters and letter sounds.  It is a fun, gentle introduction that emphasizes reading to, crafting, and playing games with your child – a winning combination.  My 3 year old actually knew most of the letters (both uppercase and lowercase) and many sounds.  More than I had realized.  That made half of the program pretty easy for him(the identifying a letter half), while the games, especially those centered around rhyming, were challenging for him and a lot of fun.  We’re still working through the first two parts because he’s learning those more challenging rhyme skills, and because he wants to.  We also found the rhyme games to be perfect for my 5 and 6 year olds to join in.

I also know that this program would have been a great fit for my older son Joseph around age 4 or 5.  Unlike Daniel, Joseph had no interest in letters at age 3 or even at four.  All About Reading Level Pre-1 would have been a fun and gentle introduction for him if it had been around then!

With that said, there are some components that are not essential, and I was thrilled to see that the company sells All About Reading Level Pre-1 several ways right here. 

• You can buy individual components.  This is the most expensive option. 
• You can buy the basic package for $79.95.  This is exactly what I would buy.  It does not include the puppet, card box, audio books, or tote bag.  I would use any stuffed animal or puppet we had instead, possibly even taking five minutes to make a zebra paper bag puppet with my child.
• You can buy the deluxe package for $119.95.  This still does not include the audio book versions of the readers, those must be purchased separately if you want them.
• For subsequent children the cost is $24.95.  This is a student materials packet with the cards, activity book (192 pages), and alphabet charts.

I can’t wait for the next level of the program to come out, hopefully by the end of summer. 

You can see my Crewmates thoughts on All About Reading Level Pre-1 here.

{Disclaimer:  I received this package free to review.  I received no other compensation and all opinions presented herein are my own.}