Scholar Within Review

Monday, July 14th

2025 Learn to Read Program Reviews

Scholar Within

• Starts at $279 per year (which is equivalent to $24 a month) or $37 monthly for one child
• Introductory offer gives you $10 off the first month
• 7-day free trial offered; cancel anytime
• Options for up to four children per account for an additional $10 per child per month (savings offered for an annual payment)
• Child reading assessment included
• Summer Reading Program available for grades K-8
• 14-day online guarantee, 30-day print guarantee
• Developed by a board-certified educational therapist
• Disability-friendly curriculum

The founders of Scholar Within firmly believe that everyone possesses the potential to be a scholar. To make a program for everyone, Scholar Within implements a whole mind and body approach, using visual, auditory, and tactile methods to teach literacy. Scholar Within employs short lessons that utilize spiral learning. This innovative approach helps students to improve their sensory systems to make the brain work more effectively. The self-paced curriculum blends online and offline activities, primarily utilizing paper and pencil. Research has shown that the act of writing improves learning faster than screen-only programs, and Scholar Within includes worksheets, puzzles, note-taking forms, card games, brain-body activities, and other methods to teach.

What to expect for lessons

Each day, students will have a fluency drill and time for independent reading. On Mondays, they will read a story and take notes using a graphic organizer. On Wednesday, they review their notes to prepare for a quiz on Thursday. Throughout the week, they will engage in various activities such as playing games, practicing spelling and sounding out letter sounds, utilizing digital resources, and engaging in other physical and mental exercises.

Innovative techniques, lots of support

This innovative way of teaching is different from traditional models, so there is a learning curve for teachers and parents. However, there are many tutorials and a robust library of videos on the Scholar Within YouTube channel and website. The efficient arrangement makes them incredibly easy to follow. The weekly plans are simple and elegant. Once you have spent a little time on the website, you can expect to spend 45-60 minutes for each lesson.

Print options available

One thing missing in our previous reviews of the Scholar Within learn to read program was the fact that there was a lot of downloading and printing involved. We love the idea of the mind and body learning concept, but it takes a lot of ink to do that. We are pleased to see that Scholar Within now offers The Essential Box ($59) as an option, which includes print materials for the first `10 weeks of each lesson for each grade. If you'd like the print materials for lessons 11-20, you can order those for an additional $39. The print materials include the graphic organizer, reading questions and spelling workbooks, spelling lessons and test sheets, reading fluency training drills, and a perforated card game.

A comprehensive curriculum that can stay with the child

Scholar Within is a comprehensive curriculum that provides learning all the way from kindergarten until 8th grade. This means you don't have to look for another curriculum once your child learns to read, but can stay consistent throughout the crucial elementary and middle school years.

Disability-friendly

Scholar Within's learn to read program is an integrative, multisensory learning approach to teaching reading that will work to ensure success for all children. Short activities are perfect for struggling readers or children with dyslexia, ADHD, or other learning challenges. A learning disabilities expert and board-certified educational therapist, who has worked with children and adults of all abilities for over three decades, also designed this program. Not only does this program improve literacy, but children who use this method will also improve auditory, visual, and tactile-kinesthetic processing skills to become better learners overall.

Satisfaction guaranteed

Scholar Within has a wonderful philosophy of wanting the program to help parents empower their children, and they are totally committed to that. They are so confident in their program that they offer a no-risk 30-day guarantee on their printed materials and a 14-day money-back guarantee on the online program. You have to pay shipping costs on the printed materials, and they must be unused and in a resalable condition. You must postmark the materials within 30 days of receiving them, or within 7 days of your selected start date, whichever comes first. The 14-day digital guarantee starts from the time you sign up.

Summer reading program available

Scholar Within primarily caters to homeschoolers, but if you're interested in utilizing this innovative method, they offer a Summer Reading Program that can enhance your kids' reading skills throughout the summer months. You can choose from a 6-, 8-, or 10-week program, or you can choose to have one year of access if you'd like to use the reading program during all the school holidays. Despite its marketing as a summer program, you have the flexibility to begin immediately or spread out your start date over the next few weeks or months.

Recent reviews are positive

Unlike other programs we've reviewed, Scholar Within's program has received very recent reviews. Reviewers say that Scholar Within is engaging and simple to follow. One reviewer shared that their student with ADHD was able to learn easily and stay interested throughout the program. Reports of improved comprehension and reading fluency abound. Overall, people feel like they are getting a great value for their money, as the amount of resources and support is so abundant and the quality is excellent. For all these reasons, we recommend Scholar Within as a fully comprehensive learn to read program, suitable for both full-time homeschooling and those seeking to supplement or enhance their reading skills during school breaks or in addition to traditional schooling.