Barton vs. All About Reading: Why the Link Between Reading and Spelling Matters
For parents navigating a dyslexia diagnosis or supporting a struggling reader, the sheer volume of curriculum choices can be paralyzing. You want the best for your child, but you also need a solution that fits your budget, your schedule, and your child's unique needs.
When researching Orton-Gillingham (OG) programs for home use, two names consistently rise to the top: the Barton Reading & Spelling System and the dual suite of All About Reading (AAR) and All About Spelling (AAS).
Both are respected programs rooted in the Science of Reading. However, they represent two very different philosophies regarding the most critical aspect of literacy: the relationship between decoding (reading) and encoding (spelling). This guide dives deep into that difference to help you decide which path is right for your family.
Two sides of the same coin: Reading and Spelling
The Foundation: The "Language Triangle"
Before comparing the specific brands, it’s vital to understand the mechanism of learning. The classic Orton-Gillingham approach isn't just about phonics; it relies on the Language Triangle. This concept posits that engaging visual, auditory, and motor pathways simultaneously creates the strongest neural connections.
Two Sides of the Same Coin
In a strictly integrated approach, reading and spelling are inseparable:
- Decoding (Reading): Translating visual symbols (letters) into sounds.
- Encoding (Spelling): Translating sounds into visual symbols.
Research suggests that encoding is a more rigorous test of mastery than decoding. A smart child can often guess a word based on its shape or the context of the sentence, creating an "illusion of competence." However, you can't guess your way through spelling. To spell a word correctly, you must retrieve the exact sequence of sounds and their corresponding rules.
Therefore, if a student can spell a concept, they effectively "own" that concept for reading.
Deep Dive: The Barton Reading & Spelling System
Created by Susan Barton, this system adheres strictly to the integrated model, making it a robust choice for remediation.
The Advantage: Integrated Rigor
Barton's philosophy relies on the process of locking words into long-term memory. By integrating reading and spelling, Barton ensures that a student cannot progress until they have mastered a concept deeply enough to spell it.
For example, when a student learns the "FLOSS rule" (doubling f, l, s, z), they read words with the rule, spell words with the rule, and write sentences with the rule all in one sitting. This triple-threaded reinforcement prevents the development of guessing habits.
The Trade-off: High Commitment
Barton uses a "trained tutor" model. For each level, you must watch training videos to learn the specific hand gestures and correction procedures. It’s highly effective, but it demands a significant time investment from the parent to learn the system before teaching it.
Deep Dive: All About Reading (AAR) & Spelling (AAS)
All About Spelling was launched first, with All About Reading following a few years later. The programs are not integrated, but are rather two separate, stand-alone products. The creators of these programs recommend that a strong foundation in reading should be taught before spelling. For some students, reading first makes spelling easier later, and the physical act of writing for spelling is taxing for very young students.
The Philosophy: Managing Cognitive Load
By decoupling these subjects, a student can move faster in reading—gaining confidence and enjoying stories—while progressing at a slower pace in spelling.
The Risk: The "Disjointed" Gap
The downside? A student might encounter a word in their reading book months before they learn the rule for why it is spelled that way. For a struggling reader, this gap can lead to confusion or reliance on visual memorization rather than true decoding.
Head-to-Head Comparison
To make the best choice, you must weigh the benefit of integration against the practical benefit of ease.
| Feature | Barton Reading & Spelling | All About Reading & Spelling |
|---|---|---|
| Philosophy | Integrated: Reading and spelling taught together to reinforce orthographic mapping. | Decoupled: Separate subjects to manage mental effort. |
| Best For | Students who guess frequently, students with moderate to severe reading struggles; ensures deep mastery via encoding. | Students with mild reading struggles and parents who need an easy start. |
| Teacher Prep | Heavy: Requires watching training videos for every level. | Light: "Open-and-go" manuals; no training required. |
| Instruction Style | Repetitive, script-heavy. No pictures. | Gamified, activity-based. Illustrated readers. |
| Risk Factor | Can be tedious; content may be dry for children; high parent burnout potential. | Separation of reading and spelling can create knowledge gaps; less intensive. May not be suitable for students with moderate to severe reading struggles. |
A Modern Alternative: The Best of Both Worlds
For years, parents had to choose: do you want the rigor of integrated encoding/decoding (Barton), or do you want the ease of use and engagement (All About Reading & Spelling)?
Modern technology is beginning to solve this trade-off. Platforms like Reading Mountain are designed to respect the integrated Orton-Gillingham philosophy—teaching reading and spelling in tandem to ensure deep learning—while using app-based technology to remove the heavy lifting for parents.
By digitizing the lesson delivery, modern tools can offer the "Language Triangle" benefits—seeing, hearing, and manipulating words—without requiring parents to watch hours of training videos or manage distinct curriculums.
Conclusion: Which Path is Yours?
The choice ultimately depends on your priorities regarding methodology versus logistics.
Choose Barton if:
- You agree that integration is key and want to prevent "guessing."
- You are acting as a tutor for a child with moderate-to-severe needs.
- You are willing to invest time in training videos.
Choose All About Reading & Spelling if:
- You prioritize ease of entry and want to start tomorrow.
- Your student is not a struggling reader or has mild difficulties.
- You are willing to use 2 separate, non-integrated curriculums to cover reading and spelling instruction.
Both programs work, but the Science of Reading points toward integration as the most robust way to build a literate brain. Whether you achieve that through a manual system like Barton or a digital solution like Reading Mountain, ensuring your learner connects the sounds they hear to the letters they write is the key to unlocking literacy.
Experience Integrated Learning, Simplified
Want the rigor of the Orton-Gillingham approach without the heavy manuals? Reading Mountain combines reading and spelling in every lesson, delivered through an engaging app your student will love.
Explore Reading MountainTry the first lessons for free. No credit card required.
Sources & Further Reading
- Barton Reading & Spelling System Levels - Official overview of the scope and sequence.
- The Top 2 Reasons We Teach Reading and Spelling Separately - All About Learning Press Blog.
- Comparison of the Top 4 Orton-Gillingham Reading Programs - Homeschooling with Dyslexia.