Logic of English for Schools

A New Approach to Reading, Spelling, Writing, and Grammar

The Logic of English® series of books and curriculum uses evidence-based reading instruction in phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, vocabulary development, fluency, and reading comprehension to improve the reading performance of all students. The five strands of reading are interwoven with spelling, grammar, handwriting, and composition for a new holistic approach. Lessons are taught through discovery so that students develop critical thinking skills about language: they learn how to learn language.

The Logic of English® promotes instructional consistency by providing teachers with materials that are easy to navigate, incorporate the latest research, and have numerous teacher supports. The Logic of English® series empowers teachers to lead their students to success in reading, spelling, and writing while they learn alongside their students, advancing on their way to becoming master teachers.

The Logic of English is an affordable and accessible approach to evidence-based reading instruction. The books introduce the linguistic structure of English words and clearly demonstrate that knowing the reasons behind English spelling is the most efficient method for developing strong readers, spellers, and writers. By arming teachers with real answers to commonly asked questions, they will no longer need to dismiss words as exceptions or rely heavily on the kill and drill of sight words.

The materials benefit all levels of students, ranging from remedial reading to average readers to gifted students. By learning the phonograms and rules which govern 98% of English words, students become not only better readers and spellers but better second language learners. The Logic of English® materials teach students how to think critically about language, to ask questions and test hypotheses. When students know how to analyze language they will be less likely to dismiss English as “crazy” when they do not understand a word and more motivated to dig deeper to find the answers.

The Logic of English® and Reading Standards

The Logic of English series teaches the five strands of reading as recommended by Reading First. Logic of English curriculum places a heavy emphasis on phonemic awareness, systematic phonics, vocabulary development, fluency, and reading comprehension. The five strands of reading are interwoven with handwriting, spelling, grammar, and composition to create a true whole language program. The materials provide teachers with quick access to the linguistic structure of English and are designed for ease of use by teachers who do not have advanced training in reading or spelling instruction.

The Logic of English series takes the methods which have been proven for both remediation and initial instruction and makes them easily accessible to all teachers. Until this time, much of this material has been taught primarily in expensive training courses often for educators seeking training in teaching students with dyslexia or other learning disabilities. As the research has demonstrated, when students are taught using methods which answer their questions about English, almost all students will be able to read proficiently. The Logic of English seeks to make this knowledge widely available to all teachers, administrators, and parents.

Cost-Effective

Logic of English® materials are available to everyone at a reasonable price, to be affordable by schools and parents alike.

Uncovering the Logic of English: A Common-Sense Solution to America's Literacy Crisis

Uncovering the Logic of English provides teachers with real answers to students’ questions rather than leaving them continually saying, “That is an exception.” It is beneficial for introducing teachers to the benefits of systematic and explicit phonics instruction in their classrooms. This title is easy-to-read and clearly demonstrates the reasons that many logically-minded students who are good at math struggle with the English language, providing simple solutions that can be implemented along with current reading and spelling programs.

Uncovering the Logic of English is ideal for teacher book studies and professional development. Reading this book is an excellent first step to improving reading and writing performance among students. We highly recommend this title for all teachers and administrators in the K12 system. The best schools understand that all teachers, including math, science, and subject teachers, are integral to ensuring that all students reach proficiency in reading.

Uncovering the Logic of English is often available on Amazon.com for a discounted price, sometimes more than 30% off.

Logic of English Essentials: A Systematic Approach to Reading, Spelling, and Writing

The Logic of English Essentials curriculum weaves the five strands of reading instruction with handwriting, spelling, grammar, and composition to provide a whole language approach to mastering the printed word. Our systematic method of introducing each concept ensures that all students can master the material. The Essentials program is ideal for teaching reading, writing, and sentence structure to students ages 7 and up. It is a perfect program for improving reading and writing across the grades. The Logic of English® Essentials program is also an affordable remedial reading solution and can be used as a central component for Response to Intervention.

Part 1 of each lesson includes a phonemic awareness activity and introduces a new phonogram and/or spelling rule. Numerous optional practice activities are included so that teachers do not need to create new material. The variety of activities provides teachers with options to tailor the material to their own classrooms as well as offering ideas for students who need extra practice. In this manner teachers are able to ensure that all students master the basic building blocks of English words without needing to access outside resources and create additional lesson plans.

In Part 2, fifteen high-frequency vocabulary words are taught and analyzed. Using the rules and phonograms, students logically analyze each word in order to understand why it is read and spelled in a particular manner. Each word includes a sample sentence, pronunciation key, and details explaining why it is read and spelled the way it is. Numerous derivatives are also included for each word and can be used to rapidly expand students’ vocabularies.

Part 3 consists of a grammar lesson and dictation, composition, and vocabulary development activities. As students learn to read and write individual words, they are also taught how to assemble the words into phrases, then simple sentences, then increasingly complex sentences. Teaching students systematically ensures that all students learn to read and write with ease.

Vocabulary development activities enable students to efficiently master a large English vocabulary by teaching them the relationship of words, roots, suffixes, and prefixes. Each lesson includes activities to expand students' vocabularies and teach them the morphemic structure of English. In this way students learn not only the tools to decode any word in English, but also how to infer the meaning of unknown words.

Finally students have the opportunity to practice the phonograms, spelling rules, words, and grammar through dictation and composition activities. Each step of the way students are supported so that they master the material and are not left to guess. Grammar lessons also cover usage, punctuation, and common errors. The grammar, writing, and dictation lessons help prepare students to write strong sentences and are foundational to developing strong writers for the essay questions included on standardized reading tests.

Meeting AYP in Reading and School Wide Interventions

The Logic of English Essentials program is ideal for schools who are not meeting AYP in reading. Schools who desire to dramatically improve reading scores across the grades may choose to use the Essentials program as a one-time intervention for all students grades 2 and up. In this manner students and teachers throughout the school develop a foundation of common knowledge for discussing spelling, developing vocabulary, and teaching reading across the curriculum. Students who are not proficient in reading are systematically taught the pieces they have been missing about reading and spelling. Many of these students will show dramatic jumps in reading ability when taught using the Logic of English Essentials curriculum a minimum of ninety minutes per day over the course of sixteen weeks. Numerous optional activities are also included for additional practice for struggling students that may be assigned to para-professionals, volunteers, or as homework.

Following a school-wide intervention, the Essentials program may then be used for students who are new to the school or as a Remedial Reading program for students with reading disabilities. In this way all new students and teachers learn the phonograms and rules which explain 98% of English words as well as how to break down and learn vocabulary by analyzing roots, prefixes, and suffixes.

Though many students will be reading at proficient or above before a school-wide intervention, these advanced students will also benefit from learning the linguistic structure underlying English. All students will also become better second language learners as they learn how to analyze language and look for patterns. Students will gain critical thinking skills as they discover the logical structure of English together with the support of the Essentials curriculum. The program may be presented to parents of gifted children and to older students as a course in English Linguistics and Morphology meant to provide the students with a more in-depth understanding of English as well as training students in critical thinking skills about language learning. Students who are proficient in reading before beginning the program usually show additional growth in their skills as they discover the “why’s” behind English spelling and grammar.

Though professional development in the form of inservices or sending teachers for training is highly recommended, the Logic of English Essentials program has been designed to include teacher supports to promote instructional consistency regardless of a teacher's training background. The program has been taught proficiently by untrained teachers who believe in its value for students.

Logic of English® materials provide teachers and students with answers to questions children commonly ask about the spelling of words, eliminating most exceptions by providing logical explanations for 98% of English words. The methods used in the books meet federal and state reading standards and are ideal for schools who have not met AYP in reading or who desire to improve the reading scores of their students.

Our products have been endorsed by co-authors of the Reading First program, Dr. Reid Lyon and Dr. Robert Sweet, Jr. and include instruction in the five strands of reading. Logic of English® materials are based upon scientific research from The National Institute of Health and Child Development, Harvard, Southern Methodist University, and many other leading institutions.

Remedial Students

Currently sixty-eight percent of eighth graders read below proficiency and a full twenty-five percent of students read below basic. Reading proficiency is the best indicator of dropout rates and it is a vital key to closing the learning gap. Logic of English® products are ideal for older students who are reading below grade level. The program validates their struggles and provides answers to their questions. Many students who learn through the Logic of English® are able to make dramatic and rapid improvement in their reading ability.

Functional MRI research has demonstrated that students who struggle with reading use the front right side of their brain while strong readers use the back left side of their brain to read. What is truly amazing is that with an average of eighty hours of systematic instruction students not only are able to make dramatic improvements in their ability to read but their brains begin to look like those of strong readers. Educators are able to accomplish what neurosurgeons cannot; they can rewire the brain through effective instruction!

The greatest problem encountered with older students is the deep level of shame and self hatred they usually feel about their reading problems. It is vital for teachers, parents, and educators to understand that students who struggle with reading feel they have failed at the most basic aspect of education. The emotional struggles of these students are actually the most difficult aspect to overcome, because many of them have deeply internalized, “I am stupid. I hate reading. There is something wrong with me.”

We encourage educators to address these self-esteem issues as part of the education process. A few ideas are included below:

• Explain to remedial students that they have had legitimate questions about English that have not been previously answered. Put up an example on the board such as mat - mate; hat - hate and then ask students what does h-a-v-e say? Ask them if they were told that have is an exception. Then explain that there are rules they were not taught such as “English words do not end in V” which will help them with their ability to read and spell words. Help them to see that they are not crazy for struggling and that they were actually very bright for seeing the inconsistencies.
• Point out the students’ strengths in hearing differences in pronunciation, in asking questions, and noticing words that didn’t seem to fit.
• Ask them if they have been frustrated by the countless "exceptions" to English. Explain that you will teach them rules and phonograms that will logically explain 98% of words.
• Show them the literacy statistics in the United States: one-third of students read below proficiency, one-third of students below basic. Explain this in layman’s terms; one-third of students cannot read and two-thirds of students are struggling. Help them to know they are not alone.
• Explain that brain research has shown that there is nothing different about the brains of people who struggle with reading. Tell them that researchers can see the brain learn to read when struggling students are taught in a manner that makes sense to them and answers their questions.
• Help them to understand that no one maliciously held back this information or wanted them to fail. Help them to see that their other teachers did not know the logic of the language, and therefore couldn’t teach it.

Reading and The Logic of English® Across the Curriculum

Professional Development

Reading is the foundation of all education. Great schools know that providing teachers solid professional development in reading is essential to the success of all students and vital to the life of the school. Because English is the largest language in the history of the world and students must be continually adding to their vocabularies to become proficient it is vital that all teachers in the K12 system understand the logic of our language and know how to draw connections as they introduce content words for their subjects.

The best way to raise reading scores across the district is to train all teachers in the basics of the Logic of English®. This can be accomplished in one of four ways:

1. Hire a Logic of English® trainer to provide an inservice at your school. Inservices can range from four hours to sixteen hours of instruction. (To help defray costs schools may sell spots in the training to teachers from other schools, parents, or other members in the community.)
2. Send one or more teachers to a Logic of English® training being conducted at another location so that they can come back and instruct your faculty.
3. Watch for upcoming free training on YouTube. At The Logic of English®, we understand that budgets are tight. Therefore, we are in process of creating a free YouTube video of The Logic of English® training. Teacher Training Manuals that include expanded notes, practice activities, and ideas for the classroom will be available for purchase. Though we believe that interaction with a professional trainer is ideal, we also understand that video training is better than no training.
4. Study Uncovering the Logic of English: A Common-Sense Solution to America's Literacy Crisis in a building-wide or district-wide book study.

Additional Supplements to Consider

The Logic of English® Reference Chart summarizes the rules and phonograms in a durable fold-out chart. The front page also displays a full-color flow chart for adding a suffix to any word. Both teachers and students benefit from this quick reference to the rules and phonograms that explain 98% of English words.

The Phonogram and Spelling Game Book is ideal for teaching students the phonograms and practicing spelling words. The book includes simple games appropriate for early childhood as well as more advanced games ideal for older learners.

Game Cards are beneficial for playing games to aid in the mastery of phonograms. Though the phonograms should be practiced daily, it is vital that the practice be fun and engaging. Card games are a perfect way for students to practice while enjoying the process. The game cards include all 74 phonograms plus additional game cards such as draw 2, stack, and rotten egg. Directions for card games are included in Chapter 1 of the Logic of English Phonogram and Spelling Game Book. The Game Cards are available in blue bookface, black bookface, and green cursive.

The Basic Phonogram Cards should be purchased by all reading and English teachers. These durable, coated flashcards are an efficient way to practice the sounds and phonograms which make up the most commonly used words in English. These cards are required with the Logic of English Essentials curriculum. Many people also purchase the cards to integrate with other curriculum.

The Advanced Phonogram Cards include the advanced phonograms which are used to describe less frequently used vocabulary words. They are beneficial for students in third grade and above. The advanced phonograms are frequently encountered in content areas, especially science and history. For this reason, it is helpful when subject teachers are able to quickly point out an advanced phonogram, its language of origin, and possibly a few other sample words that use it.

The Spelling Rule Flash Cards illustrate the spelling rules with sample words on the back of each card. They are also beneficial for drilling the spelling rules to ensure long-term mastery. These cards are scheduled in the Logic of English Essentials curriculum and are highly recommended as an additional method of practice. However, since all the rules are repeated in the Essentials Teacher’s Manual and can be recited orally, these cards are considered optional.

The Grammar Rule Flash Cards are beneficial for teaching the parts of speech, punctuation rules, sentence styles, sentence types, and more in order to help students build a solid foundation in reading and writing. These cards are scheduled in the Logic of English Essentials Teacher’s Manual and are highly recommended. However, since the rules are clearly stated in each lesson, the cards are considered optional.