Barton Reading & Spelling System vs We All Can Read

Homeschool Gold Standard vs Modern Online Solution:
Which Orton-Gillingham Program Is Right for Adults?

If you’re researching Barton Reading & Spelling System, you’ve found one of the most respected Orton-Gillingham programs in the homeschool and dyslexia communities. Created by Susan Barton in 1998, Barton has helped thousands of struggling readers master phonics through systematic, multisensory instruction.

However, there’s a critical question adult learners need to ask: Is a program designed for homeschool parents to tutor their dyslexic children the right solution for independent adult learners?

The Power of Systematic Phonics for Adult Learners

Both Barton and We All Can Read use proven Orton-Gillingham methods. But why does systematic phonics work when traditional school methods didn’t? The answer lies in understanding the literacy code.

Watch The Literacy Code Video →

This comprehensive comparison examines both programs honestly, helping you understand which approach fits your situation as an adult who needs to learn to read independently.

Quick Comparison Table

Feature	Barton Reading & Spelling System	We All Can Read
Total Lessons	120-150 lessons (10 levels)	720 lessons
Delivery Method	Physical materials + DVDs (tutor-dependent)	100% online, self-paced
Learning Model	Requires tutor for every lesson	Independent, student works alone
Technology	DVD-based training, physical tiles/manuals	Cloud-based, any device (computer/tablet/phone)
Target Audience	Dyslexic children (homeschool market)	Adults and teens specifically
Primary Market	Homeschool families (50% of buyers)	Adult independent learners
Time Commitment	2 hours/week + tutor time (2-4 years)	Self-paced, work on your schedule (12-24 months typical)
Upfront Cost	$250-300 per level (~$2,900 total)	$73 (monthly) or $803 (annual)
Monthly Cost	None (pay per level)	$73/month or $803/year
Total Program Cost	$2,900 (materials only)	$803-$1,752 (12-24 months typical)
Additional Costs	Tutor fees if not self-tutoring ($11,520-$30,720)	None (everything included)
Physical Materials	10 boxes, tiles, DVDs, manuals (required)	Optional print versions available
Completion Level	Mid-9th grade reading level	Complete phonics mastery (any word) – independent reading level
Founded	1998	1978

The Fundamental Difference: Tutor-Dependent vs Independent Learning

This is the most critical distinction between these programs:

Barton Reading & Spelling System: Requires a Tutor

Barton was explicitly designed for one-on-one tutoring. A parent, family member, volunteer, or paid tutor must:

Watch 5-6 hours of training DVDs per level (50-60 hours total)
Study the scripted lesson manual
Physically present the lesson using tiles and materials
Guide the student through each of 18 steps per lesson
Assess progress and decide when to advance
Commit to 2+ hours per week for 2-4 years

For adults, this creates a fundamental problem:

Who will tutor you?

Your spouse? (Requires their 2+ hours/week commitment for 2-4 years)
A family member? (Same time commitment required)
A paid tutor? (Costs $45-60/hour = $11,520-$30,720 total for program)
Yourself? (Impossible – you can’t tutor yourself through one-on-one lessons)

The reality: Most adults don’t have someone willing or able to commit 2+ hours per week for 2-4 years to tutor them. And hiring a professional Barton tutor costs more than most adult literacy students can afford.

We All Can Read: Independent, Self-Paced Learning

We All Can Read is designed specifically for adult independent learners:

Work completely independently (no tutor needed)
Learn on your own schedule
Video instruction for every lesson
Pause, rewind, repeat as needed
Progress at your own pace
No coordination with another person required

For adults, this means:

✅ Complete privacy (no one needs to know you’re learning)
✅ Total flexibility (work early morning, late night, weekends)
✅ No scheduling conflicts
✅ No dependency on someone else’s availability
✅ True independence

Program Structure: 120 Lessons vs 720 Lessons

Barton Reading & Spelling System: 10 Levels, 120-150 Total Lessons

Level Structure:

Level 1: Phonemic awareness (foundation)
Level 2: Consonants & short vowels
Level 3: Closed syllables, spelling rules
Level 4: Open syllables
Levels 5-8: Progressive phonics patterns, syllable types
Levels 9-10: Latin roots, Greek combining forms

Each level contains:

10-15 lessons
Total: approximately 120-150 lessons across all 10 levels
5-6 hours of tutor training DVDs per level

Completion outcome: Mid-9th grade reading level in reading, spelling, and basic writing

We All Can Read: 720 Comprehensive Lessons

Time to complete: 1-2 years typical

Program structure:

720 systematic phonics lessons
Most lessons include video instruction
245 controlled-text reading passages integrated throughout
141 supplemental fluency passages correlated to lessons in core program
400+ printable worksheets
203 mastery quizzes

Completion outcome: Complete phonics mastery – ability to decode virtually any English word systematically

Time to complete: 12-24 months typical (self-paced)

Technology and Delivery: DVDs vs Cloud-Based Access

Barton’s Physical Materials Requirement

Barton Reading & Spelling System was created in 1998 and relies on technology from that era:

DVD-Based Training:

5-6 hours of training DVDs per level
50-60 hours of DVD content total
Requires DVD player or external DVD drive

The DVD Problem: Most modern households no longer have DVD players:

Laptops manufactured in recent years don’t include DVD drives
MacBooks eliminated DVD drives over a decade ago
Desktop computers increasingly ship without optical drives
Streaming has replaced physical media in most homes

Families must:

Find and use an old DVD player, OR
Purchase an external DVD drive (~$30-40 additional cost)

Physical Materials Required:

10 boxes of materials (one per level)
Color-coded letter tiles (wooden or app-based)
Spiral-bound tutor manuals
Student worksheets and record pages
Game materials
Storage space for all materials

Practical challenges:

Not portable (can’t take materials traveling)
Requires dedicated storage space
Physical items can get lost, damaged, or disorganized
Shipping delays when ordering new levels
Must resell materials when done (or store indefinitely)

We All Can Read: Modern Cloud-Based Access

100% Online:

Instant access from any device (computer, tablet, phone)
Cloud-based – nothing to download or install
Stream lessons from anywhere with internet
No DVDs, no physical materials required
No storage space needed
Take your learning anywhere

Optional Print Materials:

Print versions of core program available for purchase (optional)
Print version of supplemental reader available (optional)
All content accessible online regardless of print purchase
Choice: fully digital or digital + print

Practical advantages:

Start learning immediately (no shipping delays)
Access from work, home, library, coffee shop
Switch between devices seamlessly
No physical clutter
Modern, mobile-friendly interface

Target Audience: Dyslexic Children vs Independent Adults

Barton’s Primary Market: Homeschool Families

Barton Reading & Spelling System was designed for, and is primarily used by:

50% Homeschool Parents (teaching their dyslexic children)

Why Barton works for homeschool families:

Parent already committed to teaching all subjects
Parent-child relationship supports one-on-one instruction
Homeschool schedule allows 2+ hours/week for reading tutoring
Physical materials fit homeschool environment
Multi-year commitment normal in homeschooling
Strong resale market among homeschool community

Other users:

25% Private tutors (working with dyslexic children)
15% Schools/literacy centers (limited due to 1-on-1 requirement)
10% Volunteers (adult literacy programs)

Program characteristics reflect this market:

Designed for parent-child tutoring dynamic
Assumes tutor has time and commitment
Physical manipulatives (tiles) work well with children
Strong emphasis on dyslexia-specific needs

We All Can Read: Designed Specifically for Adults

Our program was built from the ground up for adult independent learners:

Adult-Focused Design:

Independent learning (no tutor needed)
Respects adult dignity and intelligence
Age-appropriate content and examples
Flexible scheduling for work/life balance
Privacy (learn without others knowing)
Modern technology adults expect

Situations where adults need independent learning:

Don’t have family member able to commit 2+ hours/week for years
Can’t afford $45-60/hour professional tutor
Work schedule makes regular tutoring sessions impractical
Want privacy – don’t want others to know about reading struggle
Live in rural area without access to tutors
Need flexibility to learn early morning, late night, or weekends

Cost Comparison: Upfront Investment vs Monthly Subscription

Barton Reading & Spelling System Costs

Materials Only (Self-Tutoring):

Levels 1-2: $250 each = $500
Levels 3-10: $300 each = $2,400
Total materials cost: ~$2,900

Current promotion: Buy 2+ levels, get $50 off each level

What’s included per level:

Spiral-bound tutor manual (scripted lessons)
Training DVDs (5-6 hours)
Color-coded letter tiles
Student record pages
Reinforcement games materials

If hiring a professional Barton tutor:

Tutor rate: $45-60/hour
Sessions: 2 hours/week for 2-4 years
Total tutor cost: $11,520-$30,720
Total program cost: $14,420-$33,620 (materials + tutor)

Cost-saving strategies:

Share levels with another homeschool family
Buy used levels (~$200-300 on eBay/Facebook)
Resell levels after completion (high resale value)

Time investment:

2-4 years to complete all 10 levels
Parent/tutor time: 2+ hours/week for entire duration

We All Can Read Costs

Subscription Options:

Option 1: Monthly Subscription

$73/month
Pay as you go
Cancel or pause anytime
No commitment

Option 2: Annual Subscription

$803/year (pay for 11 months, get 12th month free)
Saves $73 vs monthly
Best value for committed learners

What’s included:

All 720 lessons
100+ hours of video instruction
245 reading passages (controlled text)
400+ printable worksheets
203 mastery quizzes
Unlimited household members

Total Program Cost (Typical):

12 months: $876 (monthly) or $803 (annual)
18 months: $1,314 (monthly) or $1,205 (annual)
24 months: $1,752 (monthly) or $1,606 (annual)

Realistic expectations: Most adult learners complete the program in 12-24 months, though time varies based on starting reading level, time commitment per week, and individual learning pace.

Optional additions:

Print version of core program (optional purchase)
Print version of supplemental reader (optional purchase)
All content available online regardless of print purchase

Cost Comparison Summary

Scenario	Barton	We All Can Read
Materials/Subscription	$2,900 upfront	$73/mo or $803/year
Self-Tutoring (if possible)	$2,900 + parent time (2-4 years)	$876-$1,752 (12-24 months typical)
With Paid Tutor	$14,420-$33,620	N/A (no tutor needed)
Time to Complete	2-4 years	12-24 months typical

Completion Outcomes

Barton Reading & Spelling System: Mid-9th Grade Level

After completing all 10 levels of Barton, students achieve:

Reading level: Mid-9th grade
Spelling level: Mid-9th grade
Writing level: Basic writing skills

What this means:

According to Barton: “Once an adult can read and spell at the ninth-grade level, they can read well enough to attend Adult Basic Education courses to prepare for the G.E.D. or go to college.”

Strengths:

Functional reading for most daily tasks
Sufficient for GED preparation courses
Strong foundation in basic phonics patterns
Excellent spelling emphasis

We All Can Read: Complete Phonics Mastery

After completing all 720 lessons, students achieve:

Decoding mastery: Can decode virtually any English word systematically
Phonics coverage: Every phonics pattern taught comprehensively
Systematic Spelling Instruction: Spelling taught along with decoding skills
Complex vocabulary: Can decode medical, technical, academic terms
True independence: Never need to guess or rely on context

What this means:

Students can confidently decode words like:

“pharmaceutical”
“simultaneously”
“organizational”
“cardiovascular”
“approximately”
Any multisyllabic word in any field

Why complete coverage matters for adults:

Workplace documents use complex vocabulary
GED and college texts require advanced reading
Professional advancement requires reading any material
Technical training uses specialized terminology
Confidence to tackle any reading challenge

Learning Experience: Hands-On Tiles vs Digital Interface

Barton’s Multisensory Tile-Based Approach

Barton uses physical, color-coded letter tiles as a core teaching tool:

How it works:

Tutor and student manipulate wooden tiles
Colors represent vowels, consonants, digraphs, etc.
Build words by physically moving tiles
Touch-and-say (tactile + auditory)
Visual color coding for syllable types

Benefits of tile approach:

Multisensory engagement (visual, auditory, kinesthetic)
Hands-on manipulation reinforces learning
Color coding makes patterns obvious
Proven effective for dyslexic learners
Tactile component helps memory

Challenges for adults:

Requires tutor to manage tiles
Can’t use independently
Tiles must be kept organized
Not portable for on-the-go learning
May feel childish to some adults

Barton Tiles App: iPad/Android app available as alternative to physical tiles, but still requires tutor to guide lessons

We All Can Read’s Digital Video-Based Approach

The We All Can Read program uses modern technology for independent learning:

How it works:

Video instruction embedded in lessons
Visual presentation of phonics concepts
Controlled-text reading practice
Interactive exercises and quizzes
Printable worksheets for spelling practice

Benefits of digital approach:

Complete independence (no tutor needed)
Pause, rewind, repeat as needed
Learn at your own pace
Access from any device, anywhere
Adult-appropriate interface
Professional presentation

Multisensory components:

Visual: Seeing patterns and words on screen
Auditory: Hearing pronunciation in videos
Kinesthetic: Spelling practice with printable worksheets
Reading: Controlled-text passages for application

Time Commitment and Flexibility

Barton: Fixed Schedule, Long Duration

Required schedule:

2 hours per week minimum (typical: two 1-hour sessions)
Consistent schedule for 2-4 years
Cannot skip sessions without losing momentum
Tutor and student must coordinate schedules

Typical completion times:

Mild dyslexia: Approximately 2 years
Moderate dyslexia: Approximately 3 years
Severe dyslexia: Approximately 4-5 years

Per level: 3-5 months (Levels 1-2 faster, Levels 3+ slower)

Challenges for adults:

Work schedule conflicts
Family obligations
Travel for business
Illness or life disruptions
Finding consistent 2-hour weekly blocks
Coordinating with tutor’s availability

We All Can Read: Flexible, Self-Paced

Your schedule:

Work whenever you want
Early morning, late night, weekends
15 minutes or 2 hours – your choice
Take breaks without losing access
Pause subscription if needed
Resume exactly where you left off

Typical completion: 12-24 months, but varies based on:

Starting reading level
Time available per week
Individual learning pace
Life circumstances

Real-world flexibility:

Work during lunch break
Learn before work starts
Study after kids go to bed
Travel and continue learning
Adjust pace during busy periods
Accelerate when you have more time

Who Should Choose Barton Reading & Spelling System?

Barton is the better choice if:

✅ You’re a parent homeschooling a dyslexic child
✅ You have a family member willing to commit 2+ hours/week for 2-4 years to tutor you
✅ You can afford a professional Barton tutor ($45-60/hour for 2-4 years)
✅ You’re part of a homeschool co-op that can share costs
✅ You have storage space for 10 boxes of materials
✅ You have a DVD player or can purchase an external drive
✅ You prefer hands-on physical manipulatives
✅ You want the most established dyslexia program with longest track record
✅ You’re comfortable with a 2-4 year commitment

Barton excels at:

Serving homeschool families teaching dyslexic children
One-on-one instruction with parent-child bond
Strong spelling emphasis
Multisensory tile-based learning
Proven track record in dyslexia community

Who Should Choose We All Can Read?

We All Can Read is the better choice if:

✅ You’re an adult who needs to learn independently
✅ You don’t have someone available to tutor you 2+ hours/week for years
✅ You can’t afford professional tutoring ($11,520-$30,720)
✅ You need flexible scheduling around work and life
✅ You want privacy – don’t want others to know you’re learning to read
✅ You prefer modern technology over DVDs and physical materials
✅ You want comprehensive phonics mastery, not just 9th grade level
✅ You need portability – learn from anywhere
✅ You want to complete faster (12-24 months vs 2-4 years)
✅ You’re preparing for GED, college, or career advancement
✅ You need to read complex technical/professional vocabulary
✅ You want affordable monthly payments vs large upfront cost

We All Can Read excels at:

Providing independence for adult learners
Flexible, self-paced learning
Complete systematic phonics mastery
Strong spelling emphasis
Modern, accessible technology
Respecting adult dignity and intelligence
Affordable monthly subscription model

The Question Only You Can Answer

Both Barton Reading & Spelling System and We All Can Read use proven Orton-Gillingham methodology. Both can help struggling readers master phonics and become confident readers.

The critical question is: Which delivery model fits your situation?

Barton asks:

Can someone commit to tutoring you 2+ hours/week for 2-4 years?
Can you coordinate schedules consistently for years?
Do you have $2,900 upfront, or $11,520-$30,720 for professional tutoring?
Can you manage DVDs and physical materials?
Are you comfortable with 2-4 years to completion?

We All Can Read asks:

Can you commit to working independently?
Do you have internet access and a device?
Can you afford $73/month or $803/year?
Do you want to complete in 12-24 months?
Do you need flexibility and privacy?

For most adult independent learners, the answer is clear.

If you’re an adult who doesn’t have someone to tutor you, can’t afford professional tutoring, needs flexible scheduling, and wants to learn privately and independently—you need a program designed for independent adult learning, not a homeschool parent-child tutoring system.

Ready to Get Started?

Try We All Can Read Free

Experience systematic Orton-Gillingham instruction designed specifically for independent adult learners. Our first 10 lessons are completely free—no credit card, no email, no obligation.

Have Questions? Contact us – We’re happy to help you decide if our program is right for your situation, or if Barton might be a better fit.

See the complete visual analysis
(15 page illustrated guide)

Compare Other Programs

Still researching your options? Read our other detailed comparisons:

Homeschool Gold Standard vs Modern Online Solution: Which Orton-Gillingham Program Is Right for Adults?