Logic of English vs All About Reading: Which Phonics Program Wins?

Quick answer

Both Logic of English (Foundations) and All About Reading are excellent, Orton-Gillingham–influenced phonics programs — the right choice comes down to teaching style. Choose All About Reading if you want a gentle, scripted, one-skill-at-a-time program with lots of games, stories, and a slower pace that works beautifully for struggling or anxious readers. Choose Logic of English Foundations if you want a faster-paced, more comprehensive program that teaches reading, spelling, handwriting, and grammar together from day one, and you are comfortable with a denser, more teacher-directed lesson. All About Reading is easier to teach; Logic of English covers more ground per lesson.

Here is the full side-by-side.

At a glance

All About Reading: strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• The gentlest on-ramp in phonics. The Pre-Reading level covers letter sounds, rhyming, and print awareness with a puppet and games. Levels 1–4 move one concept at a time with heavy review.
• Truly open-and-go. The scripting is excellent — a parent with zero teaching experience can deliver it well on day one.
• Multisensory done well. Letter tiles, word cards, fluency sheets, and decodable readers keep kids moving.
• Proven with struggling readers. It is one of the most-recommended programs in dyslexia communities (alongside Barton, which is more intensive). If your child is behind or resistant, this is the safer pick. See our signs of dyslexia by age and Barton reading guide if that is your situation.

Weaknesses

• Reading only. Spelling requires the separate All About Spelling program, and handwriting and grammar are not included at all — so your total cost and teaching time across subjects is higher than it first appears.
• Slow for quick learners. A child who picks up phonics easily may find the pace tedious.
• The pieces. Tiles, cards, and readers mean more stuff to keep track of.

Logic of English Foundations: strengths and weaknesses

Strengths

• Comprehensive. Foundations teaches phonemic awareness, phonics, reading, spelling, handwriting, and basic grammar in one program. You will not need a separate spelling curriculum.
• Efficient. It teaches all the sounds of a phonogram up front (for example, all three sounds of "a") rather than dribbling them out over months — many kids read real words sooner.
• Strong spelling instruction. The spelling analysis and rules are among the best in any homeschool program.
• Choice of handwriting style. Manuscript or cursive — LOE is one of the few programs that actively supports teaching cursive first.

Weaknesses

• Denser lessons. A Foundations lesson covers more than an AAR lesson. Some parents find it overwhelming at first, and some kids find it tiring.
• Steeper learning curve for the parent. The scripting is good but the methodology (phonograms, spelling rules, multi-skill lessons) takes a few weeks to feel natural.
• Less cuddly. AAR's games, puppet, and story readers have more charm for very young or reluctant kids.

Which one for your child?

Choose All About Reading if:

• Your child is struggling, resistant, or has any signs of dyslexia
• Your child is very young (4–5) and you want a gentle start
• You want the easiest possible teaching experience
• You do not mind buying a separate spelling program later

Choose Logic of English if:

• Your child is a typical or quick learner ready to move
• You want reading, spelling, handwriting, and grammar in one purchase
• You like the idea of teaching all phonogram sounds up front
• You want the option of cursive-first handwriting

A common path: families who start with AAR Pre-Reading for a young child sometimes switch to LOE Foundations B or C once the child is ready to move faster. The two programs are compatible enough that switching between them is not disruptive.

What about cost?

Both programs are sold per level, with a teacher's manual, student materials, and readers. Pricing changes, so check current sites, but expect each level of either program to run in the neighborhood of $100–$160 for a full kit, with reusable components (tiles, teacher's manuals) reducing the cost for younger siblings. Remember that All About Reading covers reading only — adding All About Spelling roughly doubles the per-year language arts cost, while Logic of English includes spelling.

For Arizona families, phonics curriculum is a standard ESA expense. Verify allowability before purchasing with our ESA allowability checklist, and see how to use ESA funds for curriculum.

Other programs worth knowing

• Barton Reading & Spelling — the gold standard for diagnosed dyslexia; more expensive and more intensive. See our Barton guide.
• Orton-Gillingham tutoring — if your child needs more than a curriculum, Arizona has ESA-eligible OG tutors. See Orton-Gillingham vs. Wilson vs. Barton and our Arizona dyslexia resources.
• The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts — a gentler, less systematic phonics approach that many families love; see our comparison of gentle Christian curricula.

Our verdict

You cannot make a bad choice here — these are two of the best phonics programs available to homeschoolers, and both are built on the same science-of-reading foundation. If your child is struggling or you are nervous about teaching reading, start with All About Reading; its gentleness is its genius. If your child is ready to move and you want one program to carry reading, spelling, and handwriting, Logic of English Foundations is the more efficient and more complete buy.

Still comparing? Our Christian curriculum for first grade and kindergarten curriculum guide cover full-grade options, and the curriculum finder can help you narrow by teaching style.

Frequently asked questions

Is All About Reading or Logic of English better for dyslexia?

Both are Orton-Gillingham based and appropriate for kids with dyslexic tendencies. All About Reading's slower, one-skill-at-a-time pace is usually the better fit for a struggling reader. For diagnosed dyslexia, a more intensive program like Barton or work with a certified OG tutor may be warranted — see our Arizona dyslexia resources.

Do I need All About Spelling if I use All About Reading?

Not immediately — AAR includes some spelling — but most families add All About Spelling once reading is established, since AAR itself does not systematically teach spelling. Logic of English includes spelling instruction built in.

What ages do these programs cover?

All About Reading Pre-Reading starts around age 4–5, and Levels 1–4 take most children through roughly third-grade reading level. Logic of English Foundations A–D covers roughly ages 4–7, with the Essentials program continuing for older students.

Are these programs religious?

Neither program is religious in content. Both are secular phonics programs widely used by Christian homeschoolers.

Can I use Arizona ESA funds for these curricula?

Phonics and reading curriculum is a standard ESA expense category. Verify the specific purchase before spending using our ESA allowability guide.

Can I switch from one to the other mid-year?

Yes. Both teach the same underlying phonics code, so switching is not disruptive. Place your child by skill, not by level number — both companies offer placement guidance on their sites.