FAQs for All About Spelling

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Levels and Placement

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Placement: which level should my child start with?

See the Placement Guide page to help determine placement. If you would like additional placement help, contact us!

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How many levels are there?

There are seven levels in the spelling program.

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Will there be more levels?

No, the spelling program is complete. After Level 7 students have all of the skills they need to spell just about any word.

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Can I see samples for each level?

Here’s a link to samples for All About Spelling.

Level 1

Level 2

Level 3

Level 4

Level 5

Level 6

Level 7

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Can I see the Scope and Sequence for each level?

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Download PDFs of the Scope and Sequences for All About Spelling here:

• Level 1

• Level 2

• Level 3

• Level 4

• Level 5

• Level 6

• Level 7

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How do I know if my child is ready to start spelling instruction?

Our general recommendation is to begin spelling instruction after your child has a strong start in reading. The article The Right Time to Start has more information.

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I have an older student who needs remedial help. Which level should I start with?

All About Spelling is very effective for struggling learners. Most students start in Level 1 since this is a mastery-based program, not a grade-level program. The program will help fill in the missing gaps and build a strong foundation. See the article Using All About Spelling with Older Studentsfor more information. Contact us if you would like additional help with placement.

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What age range can use the spelling program?

All About Spelling has been used by students of all ages, including pre-readers, teens, and adults

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Does the program go up to the high school level?

Yes. By the end of Level 7 of the All About Spelling program, the student will be spelling at the high school level

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Details about Teaching Spelling

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How much time should I spend on spelling each day?

As a general rule, we recommend spending 20 minutes per day on spelling, but you can adjust this depending upon the level and attention span of your child. 

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How long does it take to complete a Step?

First, remember that you do not need to complete an entire Step in one day—some Steps may even take a week or more to cover. The speed at which your child finishes a Step depends on the student's age, attention span, prior experience, and the concepts being taught. The All About Spelling program is completely flexible and customizable so you can breeze through sections that are easy for your student and spend more time on difficult concepts.

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How are words in All About Spelling arranged?

In each spelling lesson, a single new rule or concept is taught. Words with similar attributes are taught together. Instead of jumping from one concept to another, students learn spelling in a sequential, orderly way. For example, when the sound of /ar/ is taught, students learn words such as barn, car, hard, garden, shark, smart. The dictation phrases and sentences include words containing the sound of /ar/ for additional reinforcement.

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Do you review spelling words after they've been taught?

Yes! Continual individualized review is a major component of the All About Spelling program, and the first thing you'll do before beginning to teach is to set up the Spelling Review Box. AAS uses several different methods to review concepts and spelling words, including flashcards, word analysis, sentence dictation, and writing activities. Worked right into the lesson plans, the continual review ensures that your students don't forget what you teach them and gives them the practice they need in exactly the areas they need it. 

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How does All About Spelling teach the spelling rules?

First the spelling rules in All About Spelling are demonstrated with Letter Tiles to make the concepts crystal clear in the student's mind. Then the rules are reviewed as many times as necessary until the student masters the concept. Spelling rules and generalizations are also reviewed with flashcards.

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