All About Reading, Level 1 - REVIEW

We've been scrambling to keep up with Baby Bird recently.  It seems she's ready to start reading... NOW.  She's 3 1/2.  Didn't really think we'd be needing phonics resources when our kid was still wearing pullups, but hey, kids are quirky.

I've sought the advice of many much more experienced homeschooling mamas, pored over curricula reviews, prayed, talked it over with hubby, dragged my feet, and finally settled on what to order.  We decided on two programs actually, but tonight I'll just include a review of the one that arrived today.  Mail... I love homeschool Christmas!

I read through the placement tests and chose All About Reading, Level 1.

If you order directly through the company you can request box art.  How seriously cool is that?

The goodies:

Please forgive the poor picture quality/location.  It's midnight and this is real life.



Initial Reactions:

•  Teacher's Manual
• Open and go - I'm going to want this spiral-bound or in a 3-ring binder.  I like binders but I want to be able to fold back one half so only one page is visible.  Mission.
• Table of contents: very clear on what will be covered, know at a glance if the readers will be needed
• Appendices:  AWESOME.  Includes all the key components I want at my fingertips
• Scope and Sequence of Level 1
• Phonograms taught in Level 1
• Full blending procedure
• Solving B-D reversal problems
• Words taught in Level 1
• Section 1, "What do you need?":  So glad it includes pictures of each item
• Clear, clutter-free pages throughout 

• Letter Tiles
• Seem sturdy enough for their job.  Like the color-coding.
• REALLY glad this person suggested attaching all the magnets BEFORE punching apart the letter tiles... she also has a fantastic review of AAR, Level 1
• Anyone else find mindless tasks like sticker-sticking and laminate-cutting relaxing?  Turned on some classical music (yay Pandora!) and chilled with a glass of wine for this job :)

• Readers (3)
• Exceptional binding
• Gorgeous black and white pencil illustrations
• Skill-appropriate vocabulary, not overly juvenile, would be appropriate for an older beginner reading student but easily enjoyed by younger audiences as well
• Student Activity Book
• Definitely to be used in conjunction with teacher's manual
• Clear, clutter-free pages all in black/white
• Heavy-duty pages

We chose this program is large part because it is supposed to be so geared toward multi-sensory learning.  Our daughter is young and wiggly - hoping this pans out!