For children ages 4-7, we recommend Foundations. Most children start at Level A, but for some children who are already reading, starting at B may be a better fit.
For children who are 7-8 years old, either Foundations or Essentials may be used. Which one will be a better fit depends on the child's interests, personality, energy level, and reading skills. To learn more, see our article Foundations and Essentials Comparison.
For students ages 8 to adult, we recommend Essentials, starting with Units 1-7 (or with the optional Pre-Lessons that come with 1-7). This includes struggling readers, strong readers who struggle with spelling, and proficient readers and spellers who want to gain a deeper understanding of how written English works and why English words are spelled the way they are.
More Information
What's the difference? To learn more about the similarities and differences between the two programs, see our article Foundations and Essentials Comparison.
Essentials Levels: For guidance on whether the Level A, B, or C Spelling Lists are the best fit for your Essentials student, see the Essentials Placement Test. You may download a PDF copy of the Printable Placement Test. You do not need to know which level of application will be best for your student before ordering, as all three levels are included within each unit.
Early Readers: For tips on starting Foundations with a child who is already reading independently and adjusting the pace to increase the level of challenge, see our article Starting Foundations With Children Who Are Already Reading.
Foundations A or B? If you are trying to decide between Foundations A and B as the starting point for your student, see the Starting Foundations with B Assessment.
More questions: If you have additional questions about placement, please contact us. We'd be happy to help!
Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh.
