Comparison, language arts
All About Reading vs Logic of English: which one suits your child?
All About Reading teaches reading on its own in short scripted lessons with letter tiles and a separate spelling program, while Logic of English teaches reading, spelling, grammar and (in Foundations) handwriting together through its phonograms and spelling rules.
The short answer. Neither is better for every child. Choose All About Reading if your child is a young or early reader who needs short daily lessons. Choose Logic of English if your child is 8 or older, reads below level, or reads well but cannot spell. Whichever you pick, the level matters more than the brand, so find out where your child is before you buy.
At a glance
| All About Reading | Logic of English | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | Pre-K to 4 | Levels, not grades |
| Faith content | Secular | Secular |
| Teaching style | Orton-Gillingham, Mastery, Open and go | Orton-Gillingham, Mastery |
| Format | Workbook, Textbook, Manipulatives | Workbook, Textbook, Manipulatives |
| Parent time | Plenty | Plenty |
| Price | Mid price | Mid price |
| Placement test | Yes | Yes |
| Often chosen for | Children who are behind, dyslexia, hands-on learners | Dyslexia, children who are behind, hands-on learners |
How they differ
| All About Reading | Logic of English | |
|---|---|---|
| Phonics approach | Phonograms introduced gradually across Levels 1-4 with letter tiles, word cards and decodable stories; a set blending routine breaks guessing habits. | Teaches 75 basic phonograms, with all sounds of each phonogram taught at once, using flash cards, games and mouth position from the start. |
| Spelling rules | Not part of the reading program: spelling and its rules are taught in the separate All About Spelling, so reading can move ahead faster. | Built in: Foundations introduces 19 spelling rules for decoding; Essentials teaches 31 rules to mastery alongside reading. |
| Handwriting and grammar | Neither is included. | Foundations includes handwriting in cursive or manuscript and light grammar; Essentials has major grammar and vocabulary work, but handwriting is sold separately. |
| Orton-Gillingham basis | Publisher says it is based on Orton-Gillingham research and multisensory. | Widely described as Orton-Gillingham based or influenced, multisensory and explicit; the publisher pages checked do not use the term. |
| How scripted the lessons are | Scripted, open-and-go lessons with about 20 minutes a day; a few minutes of prep for cards and tiles. | Scripted teacher's manuals, but longer lessons: Essentials parts run 30-60 minutes, often split over two days, with more prep and materials. |
| Dyslexia and older readers | Publisher says it works for children with dyslexia; levels are not grades, so older strugglers can start in Level 1 or 2, though early stories may feel young. | Essentials is designed for ages 8 to adult, including struggling readers and good readers who cannot spell. |
| Parent role | High: the parent sits with the child for every lesson, but the manual says exactly what to do. | High: teacher-led with whiteboard, flash cards and games; parents report a steeper learning curve. |
Which one suits your child
Choose All About Reading if
- Your child is a young or early reader who needs short daily lessons
- You want a program you can open and teach with almost no preparation
- Your child reads well enough but spelling should move at its own slower pace
- Your child likes hands-on work with tiles and cards
Choose Logic of English if
- Your child is 8 or older, reads below level, or reads well but cannot spell
- Your child likes knowing why a word is spelled the way it is
- You want reading, spelling and grammar in one program instead of several
- You can give longer teaching sessions and enjoy learning the rules yourself
Why parents choose All About Reading
- Scripted lessons, little prep
- Multisensory with letter tiles
- Short daily lessons
Why parents choose Logic of English
- Explains why English spelling works
- Integrates phonics, spelling and grammar (handwriting in Foundations)
- Strong for older struggling readers
Watch out for, All About Reading
- Parent must sit with the child every lesson
- Costly across several levels
Watch out for, Logic of English
- Teacher manual heavy, steep parent learning curve
- Pricey bundles
Switching between All About Reading and Logic of English
From All About Reading to Logic of English
Give the free Logic of English Essentials placement test: every student starts at Unit 1, and the test picks the spelling track (A, B or C). Children who finished All About Reading usually read well, so the main gaps are spelling rules (unless they used All About Spelling), grammar and handwriting.
From Logic of English to All About Reading
Give the All About Reading placement test for the level just above the child's current skills; the story read-aloud is the main signal. Children from Logic of English usually know many phonograms already and may move quickly through early lessons; spelling then needs All About Spelling, and grammar and handwriting a separate resource.
Which level of All About Reading? → Which level of Logic of English? →
What parents often say
- All About Reading is praised as easy to teach because the parent just follows the script.
- Logic of English is seen as more thorough but more complicated to teach, with long lessons that many split over days.
- Parents of older struggling readers lean toward Logic of English Essentials, while All About Reading is more often chosen for young beginners.
- Some parents are unsure whether All About Reading also needs All About Spelling, which is sold separately.
Point of Progress in 20 seconds
Ready to see where your child stands?
See where they stand →Questions parents ask
Do I need All About Spelling with All About Reading?
All About Reading does not teach spelling; the publisher teaches reading and spelling separately on purpose and sells All About Spelling for that. Logic of English includes spelling in the same lessons.
Is Logic of English or All About Reading better for dyslexia?
Both are explicit, multisensory programs commonly used with dyslexic children, and neither publisher's claims come from independent outcome studies. All About Reading suits younger children who need short lessons; Logic of English Essentials suits older children who also need spelling.
Which is better for an older child who is behind in reading?
Logic of English Essentials is designed for ages 8 to adult, so its content does not feel babyish. All About Reading also places by skill, not grade, but its early stories are aimed at young readers.
Which level should my child start in?
Use the publisher's placement guidance for the program you choose; levels rarely line up one to one between programs. If you are not sure where your child stands, an independent adaptive test such as Point of Progress (grades 3 to 10, about forty minutes at home) shows their level and the skills that need work.
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Sources
- allaboutlearningpress.com/all-about-reading/
- allaboutlearningpress.com/ortongillingham
- allaboutlearningpress.com/placement/
- logicofenglish.com/pages/where-to-start
- logicofenglish.com/blogs/help-center/foundations-and-essentials-compar
- loe-assets.logicofenglish.com/downloads/essentials-tm-placement-test.p
- logicofenglish.com/blogs/help-center/moving-to-essentials-after-founda
- cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/phonics-readin
Know where they stand before you buy the book.
About forty minutes at home, math and reading & writing, grades 3 to 10. The report is ready as soon as the test finishes.
Test your child, $9.99 →or with the ten-week workbook, $19.99This page is Point of Progress's own research, compiled in November 2026 from publishers' websites, placement materials and parent reviews. Publishers update their products, levels, placement tests and prices from time to time, so please verify all information with the provider before you buy. Point of Progress is independent and is not affiliated with any publisher named here.