Choosing a curriculum
The best secular language arts curricula, compared
Reading, spelling, grammar and writing programs with no religious content. Some cover everything in one book, others do one job well and are meant to be combined. Each entry says which.
The short answer. 10 programs fit, listed alphabetically, not ranked. The best one is the one that fits your child's level and the way they learn, so find out where they are before you buy.
At a glance
| Curriculum | Grades | Style | Parent time | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All About Reading | Pre-K to 4 | Orton-Gillingham, Mastery | Plenty | Mid price |
| All About Spelling | Levels, not grades | Orton-Gillingham, Mastery | Some | Low cost |
| Barton Reading & Spelling System | K to 12 | Orton-Gillingham, Mastery | Plenty | Higher price |
| BookShark Language Arts | K to 10 | Literature based, Open and go | Some | Mid price |
| Brave Writer | K to 12 | Literature based, Charlotte Mason | Plenty | Mid price |
| Explode the Code (2nd Edition) | Pre-K to 4 | Open and go | Little | Low cost |
| Logic of English (Foundations and Essentials) | Levels, not grades | Orton-Gillingham, Mastery | Plenty | Mid price |
| Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts | 1 to 12 | Literature based | Some | Mid price |
| Moving Beyond the Page | Pre-K to 12 | Literature based | Plenty | Higher price |
| Spelling You See | Levels, not grades | Open and go | Some | Low cost |
The programs, one by one
All About Reading
All About Learning Press · Language arts · grades Pre-K to 4 · Secular · parent time: Plenty
Teaching style: Orton-Gillingham, Mastery, Open and go. Often chosen for: children who are behind, dyslexia, hands-on learners.
- Fully scripted lessons
- Multisensory with letter tiles
- Short daily lessons
- Parent must sit with the child every lesson
- Costly across several levels
All About Spelling
All About Learning Press · Language arts · grades Levels, not grades · Secular · parent time: Some
Teaching style: Orton-Gillingham, Mastery, Open and go. Often chosen for: children who are behind, dyslexia, hands-on learners.
- Teaches the rules behind spelling
- Tiles make patterns visible
- Works for older remedial spellers
- Older kids may need to start at Level 1
- Parent-led lessons
Barton Reading & Spelling System
Bright Solutions for Dyslexia (Susan Barton) · Language arts · grades K to 12 · Secular · parent time: Plenty
Teaching style: Orton-Gillingham, Mastery. Often chosen for: dyslexia, children who are behind.
- Built for parents tutoring a dyslexic child
- Tutor training videos included
- Resale value of used kits
- Expensive across ten levels
- One-on-one, every day
BookShark Language Arts
BookShark · Language arts · grades K to 10 · Secular · parent time: Some
Teaching style: Literature based, Open and go. Often chosen for: children who like structure.
- Four-day schedule built in
- Literature-rich without religious content
- Daily plans spelled out
- Best value when paired with the full BookShark package
- Lots of reading for the parent
Brave Writer
Brave Writer (Julie Bogart) · Language arts · grades K to 12 · Secular · parent time: Plenty
Teaching style: Literature based, Charlotte Mason. Often chosen for: children who are behind.
- Rebuilds confidence in reluctant writers
- Warm, relationship-based approach
- Ties writing to read-alouds
- Loose structure frustrates checklist-minded parents
- Many products, confusing to buy
Explode the Code (2nd Edition)
EPS Learning · Language arts · grades Pre-K to 4 · Secular · parent time: Little
Teaching style: Open and go. Often chosen for: independent workers, children who are behind.
- Cheap, simple phonics practice
- Kids can do pages alone
- Good supplement to a teaching program
- Practice rather than full instruction
- Repetitive for some kids
Logic of English (Foundations and Essentials)
Logic of English · Language arts · grades Levels, not grades · Secular · parent time: Plenty
Teaching style: Orton-Gillingham, Mastery. Often chosen for: dyslexia, children who are behind, hands-on learners.
- Explains why English spelling works
- Integrates phonics, spelling, grammar, handwriting
- Strong for older struggling readers
- Teacher manual heavy, steep parent learning curve
- Pricey bundles
Michael Clay Thompson Language Arts
Royal Fireworks Press · Language arts · grades 1 to 12 · Secular · parent time: Some
Teaching style: Literature based. Often chosen for: advanced children.
- Elegant books that treat kids as thinkers
- Grammar, vocabulary, poetry and writing in one
- Designed for gifted learners
- Expensive per level
- Discussion-based, needs an engaged parent
Moving Beyond the Page
Beyond the Page · Language arts · grades Pre-K to 12 · Secular · parent time: Plenty
Teaching style: Literature based. Often chosen for: advanced children, hands-on learners.
- Project-based units for bright kids
- Links reading to science and social studies
- Higher-order thinking prompts
- Expensive
- Heavy parent facilitation
Spelling You See
Demme Learning · Language arts · grades Levels, not grades · Secular · parent time: Some
Teaching style: Open and go. Often chosen for: visual learners, children who are behind.
- No rule memorization
- Copywork and dictation build visual memory
- Short daily routine
- Too passive for kids who need explicit rules
- Dictation requires parent time
Point of Progress in 20 seconds
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See where they stand →Narrow it down for your child
The curriculum finder matches all 45 programs to your child's grade, needs and learning style, your faith and budget, and shows what your state asks of homeschoolers.
Questions parents ask
Which is the best secular language arts?
There is no single best. The right program depends on your child's level, how they learn and how much time you have to teach. Start from where your child really is: a program that fits their level beats a better program at the wrong one.
How do I know which level to buy?
Use the publisher's placement test where there is one. 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 exact skills that need work before you choose.
Are these programs ranked?
No. They are listed alphabetically. No publisher pays to be listed and there are no affiliate links.
Keep reading
Curriculum finder
Match math and reading programs to your child, your faith and your state.
Best Christian language arts
Christian and Catholic reading and writing programs.
Free curricula worth using
Free math and reading programs, and what free leaves out.
Reading programs for dyslexia
Orton-Gillingham and other structured literacy options.
Short lessons for busy minds
Programs with short lessons, games and quick wins.
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.