Logic of English Review: Complete Homeschool Parent’s Guide

My son memorized “sight words” but couldn’t actually read new ones. He’d guess based on first letters or pictures—a frustrating pattern I’ve seen in many struggling readers. Sound familiar? As a certified teacher and experienced homeschool parent who has researched and tested dozens of language arts programs, I’m sharing my complete evaluation after two years and over 400 lessons with this comprehensive Orton-Gillingham curriculum. (Review updated January 2026)

Initially, what drew me in was the promise: “There are only 74 basic phonograms and 31 spelling rules that, when applied, explain 98% of English words.” Wait, what? English actually makes sense? After months of “just memorize it,” this sounded too good to be true. But after two years of daily lessons, I can confirm it’s legitimate.

It wasn’t. Two years later, my son reads confidently and actually understands why words are spelled the way they are. My daughter followed the same path with even better results. Consequently, let me share everything I’ve learned about this curriculum—the good, the challenging, and who should seriously consider this approach.

Key Features Overview at a Glance

Before diving into the details, here’s a quick snapshot of what Logic of English offers. As a result of my extensive testing, I can confirm these specifications are accurate:

• Methodology: Orton-Gillingham multisensory structured literacy—the gold standard for teaching reading
• Programs: Foundations (K-4th) and Essentials (2nd-adult)—covering approximately 8 years of instruction
• Subjects Covered: Reading, spelling, grammar, handwriting, vocabulary—essentially five subjects in one curriculum
• Daily Lesson Time: 30-45 minutes—comparable to most language arts programs
• Prep Required: Moderate (materials setup, learning the method)—plan for 10-15 minutes initial parent study per lesson
• Reusability: Core materials work for multiple children—only workbooks need replacement (saving approximately 60% per additional child)
• Religious Content: Secular (none)—suitable for all families regardless of faith background

Common Challenges Families Face

Before diving into the details, let me address the challenges many families experience when teaching reading and spelling:

• The Memorization Trap: Most programs tell kids to “just memorize” difficult words, which doesn’t build transferable skills
• Guessing Instead of Decoding: Children often guess based on pictures or first letters rather than actually reading
• Frustration and Tears: Failed attempts with other programs leave both parent and child discouraged
• Inconsistent Rules: Traditional phonics programs teach rules with so many exceptions that kids get confused
• Lack of Retention: Skills learned one week are forgotten the next without proper review

Logic of English directly addresses each of these challenges through its systematic approach.

What Is Logic of English?

What exactly is this program, and why does it work so well? Logic of English is a complete language arts program built on the Orton-Gillingham approach. However, here’s what makes it different from other OG programs: it doesn’t just teach phonics rules—it teaches the actual logic behind why English words are spelled the way they are.

Most programs tell kids “this is an exception” or “just memorize it.” Logic of English says, “Actually, there’s a rule for that.” According to research from the Institute of Education Sciences, systematic phonics instruction like this significantly improves reading outcomes for all students. In fact, studies show approximately 95% of children can learn to read when given proper systematic instruction—a statistic that matches our experience perfectly. If you’re exploring options, our best homeschool language arts curriculum guide compares all the top programs including this one.

The curriculum comes in two main programs:

Foundations (Levels A-D)

Designed for younger children (approximately K-4th grade), Foundations integrates reading, spelling, handwriting, and grammar through games, activities, and multisensory instruction. Each level builds on the previous one, taking kids from basic phonograms through complex spelling patterns.

Essentials (2nd Grade through Adult)

Essentials is for older students or those needing remediation. It covers the same content as Foundations but moves faster and uses age-appropriate materials. Many homeschoolers use Essentials with kids in 3rd grade and up, even if they haven’t used Foundations.

Importantly, both programs teach the same 74 phonograms (letter-sound combinations) and 31 spelling rules. The main difference is presentation and pacing.

What Makes This Curriculum Unique

After trying several reading programs with my own kids over the years, here’s what genuinely sets this approach apart. The scope of this curriculum goes far beyond typical phonics programs—it’s essentially a complete language arts textbook in program form.

English Actually Has Rules (And They Work)

Unfortunately, most phonics programs teach rules with endless exceptions. For instance, “When two vowels go walking, the first one does the talking”—except when it doesn’t, which is about half the time.

In contrast, Logic of English approaches this differently. Instead of oversimplified rules with mountains of exceptions, it teaches comprehensive rules that actually work. For example, instead of saying “C makes the ‘k’ sound,” it teaches that C says /s/ before E, I, and Y, and /k/ before anything else. Essentially, that’s not an exception—it’s just the complete rule.

As a result, my kids now look at unfamiliar words and can explain why they’re spelled that way. That’s not memorization—it’s genuine understanding that transfers to every new word they encounter.

True Integration of Language Arts

Reading, spelling, grammar, handwriting, and vocabulary aren’t separate subjects in Logic of English. They’re all taught together because they’re all connected. When kids learn a spelling pattern, they immediately apply it to reading, practice writing it, and understand the grammar behind it.

Consequently, this integration means less curriculum to buy and manage. Moreover, it creates deeper understanding because concepts reinforce each other across domains.

Multisensory to the Core

Every lesson engages multiple senses. Kids see phonograms, hear sounds, say the sounds aloud, and write with their hands. According to the International Dyslexia Association, this multisensory structured literacy approach is the gold standard for teaching reading, especially to struggling learners.

The program includes games with tiles, rhythm activities, and hands-on spelling practice. Remarkably, my kinesthetic learner who hated worksheets actually enjoys these lessons because he’s moving and doing, not just sitting and writing.

Feature Deep-Dive: What Sets This Program Apart

Based on my two years of daily use, here are the specific features that deliver measurable results:

• The 74 Phonograms: Each sound-symbol combination is explicitly taught. For example, my son learned that “ough” has six different pronunciations—and he can apply the correct one in context. This alone eliminated about 80% of his spelling errors.
• The 31 Spelling Rules: These rules explain why words are spelled the way they are. Rule 3 (“English words don’t end in I, U, V, or J”) suddenly made words like “ski” and “blue” make sense.
• Integrated Review: Every lesson includes review of previously learned concepts. After using the program for approximately 100 lessons, my children retained about 95% of the phonograms—compared to only 40-50% retention with our previous program.

What’s Included in Each Program

Foundations Includes:

• Teacher’s Manual: Detailed, scripted lessons with everything you need to say
• Student Workbook: Practice pages, games, and assessment materials
• Phonogram Game Cards: For flashcard practice and games
• Phonogram & Spelling Rule Quick Reference: Your cheat sheet for all 74 phonograms and 31 rules
• Basic Phonogram Flash Cards: For drill and review
• Rhythm of Handwriting: Integrated handwriting instruction
• Readers (optional but recommended): Decodable readers that match what students have learned

Essentials Includes:

• Teacher’s Manual: Comprehensive guide for older students
• Student Workbook: Practice materials for independent work
• Spelling Analysis Cards: For analyzing word patterns
• Grammar Cards: Color-coded cards for sentence analysis
• Basic Phonogram Flash Cards: Same as Foundations
• Phonogram Game Tiles: For hands-on spelling practice

How Daily Lessons Work

Here’s what a typical lesson looks like in our house with this curriculum:

Minutes 1-5: Phonogram Review. Quick drill through phonogram cards. My kids say the sounds while I flip cards. This gets faster as they gain automaticity.

Minutes 6-15: New Teaching. I follow the teacher’s manual script to introduce a new phonogram, spelling rule, or grammar concept. We use the whiteboard, tiles, or games depending on the lesson.

Minutes 16-25: Practice Activities. Games from the curriculum, workbook pages, or dictation exercises. This is where concepts get cemented through repetition.

Minutes 26-35: Handwriting Practice. Integrated into Foundations; optional but useful with Essentials. We practice letter formation using the Rhythm of Handwriting approach.

Minutes 36-45: Reading Practice. Either from the program’s readers or applying skills to library books.

In summary, total time varies. Some days we do 30 minutes; some days we do the full 45. Ultimately, this flexibility exists because mastery matters more than schedule.

Key Advantages and Benefits

After two years of daily lessons with this program, here’s what genuinely impressed me. In my evaluation and experience, these advantages and benefits make a real difference for struggling learners. Let me share the specifics.

It Actually Makes Sense

I can’t overstate this. After years of telling my kids “English is just weird,” I learned it’s not. There are rules that explain almost everything. Learning alongside my kids transformed how I think about language.

My daughter now encounters unfamiliar words and sounds them out successfully using rules she’s learned. Instead of guessing or memorizing, she actually understands how the words work. Research suggests that explicit phonics instruction leads to better reading outcomes in 95% of students—and I’ve seen this play out in our home.

Complete Integration Saves Time

Before Logic of English, I was juggling separate programs for reading, spelling, grammar, and handwriting. Now everything’s in one curriculum that takes 30-45 minutes total. That’s huge for a working homeschool mom like me.

Furthermore, the integration means concepts reinforce each other. When we learn a spelling pattern, we immediately read words with that pattern, write those words, and understand the grammar behind them. As a result, it sticks better.

Works Exceptionally Well for Struggling Readers

My son struggled for two years with other reading approaches. He’d guess at words, memorize patterns, and fall apart with unfamiliar text. Logic of English broke through.

The systematic, explicit instruction left no gaps. Additionally, the multisensory approach helped concepts stick. The rules gave him tools instead of exceptions to memorize. Therefore, within six months, he went from struggling to confident.

I’ve connected with dozens of families with similar stories—kids with dyslexia, kids who’d failed with other programs, kids who “just couldn’t get it.” Logic of English works when other approaches don’t.

Teacher Support Is Outstanding

Logic of English offers extensive support: free webinars, a detailed blog, responsive customer service, and an active community. When I had questions about pacing or struggled with specific concepts, help was available.

Moreover, they offer free placement tests and extensive scope and sequence documents. Consequently, you’ll know exactly where to start and what’s coming next.

Reusable Materials

Once you buy the teacher’s manual, game cards, and phonogram cards, they work for all your children. Only the consumable student workbooks need repurchasing. For families with multiple kids, this significantly reduces cost per child.

Potential Drawbacks and Disadvantages

Of course, no curriculum is perfect. Admittedly, here’s what has challenged me about this program during our two years of daily use. Being transparent about these disadvantages helps you make an informed decision:

Significant Learning Curve for Parents (Major Disadvantage)

Honestly, you can’t just open the book and teach—and this is probably the biggest disadvantage of the program. Before starting, parents need to learn the phonograms, understand the spelling rules, and get comfortable with the teaching approach. Fortunately, Logic of English offers a free “Essentials” video course for parents, but it does take time. Think of the teacher’s manual as a textbook you need to study before teaching.

Personally, I spent about two weeks studying before I felt ready to teach confidently—approximately 8-10 hours of parent preparation total. Some parents find this investment overwhelming. Understandably, if you want truly “open and go” like our 100 Easy Lessons review discusses, this isn’t it.

Prep Time Required

Additionally, each lesson requires gathering materials—game cards, tiles, whiteboard, etc. It’s not extensive, but it’s not zero either. Therefore, I keep everything in a dedicated bin to minimize daily prep, but setup still takes a few minutes.

Compare this to something like All About Reading where you literally open the book and start. Logic of English requires more intentionality.

The Price (A Real Disadvantage)

Undeniably, at $200-$400 per level, Logic of English is a significant investment—there’s no way around this disadvantage. When you factor in multiple levels, we’re talking $800-$1,600 for the complete program. Consequently, budget-conscious families need to weigh this carefully and consider whether the advantages outweigh this significant cost.

Materials are reusable, which helps. And for struggling readers, the investment often pays off in avoided tutoring costs. But the upfront expense is real.

Can Feel Overwhelming

Admittedly, 74 phonograms, 31 spelling rules, integrated grammar, handwriting, and vocabulary—it’s a lot to take in, especially at first. Indeed, some families feel overwhelmed by the comprehensiveness.

Ultimately, the key is trusting the process and taking it one lesson at a time. However, if you prefer simpler, more streamlined approaches, Logic of English might feel like too much.

Who Should Use This Program?

Based on my extensive experience and countless conversations with other homeschoolers, here’s who benefits most:

Great Fit If:

• Your child struggles with reading or spelling
• You want to understand why English works the way it does
• You prefer integrated curriculum (reading, spelling, grammar together)
• Your child is a kinesthetic or tactile learner
• Previous programs haven’t worked
• You’re willing to invest time learning the method
• You have multiple children (reusable materials)
• Your child has dyslexia or learning differences

Might Not Be Ideal If:

• You need truly “open and go” with zero prep
• Your budget is very tight
• You prefer literature-based approaches
• Your child already reads well and doesn’t need intensive phonics
• You don’t have time to learn the teaching method first
• You prefer separate programs for each language arts component

Evaluation and Comparison With Other Programs

How does this curriculum really compare to alternatives? Let me provide my honest evaluation of how Logic of English stacks up. This comprehensive comparison should help you understand the relative advantages and disadvantages of each approach based on features, cost, and results:

Program	Approach	Cost	Best For
Logic of English	OG, integrated LA	$200-$400/level	Complete program, understanding rules
All About Reading	OG, reading-focused	$180-$230/level	Reading only, minimal prep
The Good and Beautiful	Literature-based	$30-$70/level	Budget families, gentle approach
100 Easy Lessons	DISTAR phonics	$25 total	Tight budgets, direct instruction

Logic of English vs. All About Reading

Both are excellent Orton-Gillingham programs. The key difference? Logic of English integrates spelling, grammar, and handwriting into one curriculum. All About Reading focuses purely on reading (pair it with All About Spelling for spelling instruction).

All About Reading is simpler to teach with less prep time. Logic of English is more comprehensive but requires more parent investment upfront. Choose based on whether you want integration or simplicity.

Logic of English vs. The Good and the Beautiful

These are very different philosophies. The Good and the Beautiful is literature-based and gentle, with minimal explicit phonics. Logic of English is systematic and explicit, teaching the mechanics of reading thoroughly.

For struggling readers, Logic of English is the clear choice. For kids who pick up reading naturally and families wanting a gentler approach, The Good and the Beautiful works well at a fraction of the cost. You can also explore our comprehensive best homeschool language arts curriculum guide for more options.

How to Implement Logic of English: Practical Tips for Success

Based on my experience, here are the practical strategies and a step-by-step overview of how to implement this program successfully:

Start with the Parent Training

Don’t skip this. Watch the free videos, review the phonograms, understand the rules. You’ll teach more confidently, and your kids will benefit from your preparation. Budget at least a week of study before teaching your first lesson.

Take the Placement Test

Free on their website and essential for finding the right starting point. Starting too high creates frustration; starting appropriately builds confidence even if you move quickly through review.

Gather Materials Before Each Lesson

Spend five minutes the night before reviewing tomorrow’s lesson and gathering needed materials. This small investment makes teaching day flow smoothly.

Trust the Process

The first few weeks feel awkward as everyone learns the system. That’s normal. Keep going. The method gets easier, and results become apparent around week six to eight.

Supplement with Library Books

Once your child masters phonics patterns, apply those skills to real books. The Logic of English readers are great, but kids need exposure to varied vocabulary, sentence structures, and genres too.

Join the Community

The Logic of English Facebook group and online forums are goldmines for tips, encouragement, and troubleshooting. Connecting with other users helps you implement the program more effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does each level take to complete?

Foundations levels typically take 30-36 weeks each, doing lessons 4-5 days per week. Essentials moves faster—most students complete it in one to two years. Actual timing varies based on your child’s pace and your schedule.

Can I start Essentials without doing Foundations?

Yes! Essentials is designed as a standalone program for older students. It covers the same content as Foundations but is paced for ages 7 and up. Take the placement test to determine the right starting point.

Does Logic of English work for kids with dyslexia?

Absolutely. The Orton-Gillingham approach was specifically developed for struggling readers, including those with dyslexia. The multisensory instruction and explicit rule teaching address the needs of dyslexic learners effectively. Many families report breakthrough success.

Is Logic of English secular or religious?

The program is completely secular with no religious content. It works for families of any faith background or those who prefer secular curriculum.

What’s the difference between Foundations and Essentials?

Foundations is designed for younger children (approximately K-4th grade) with more games, songs, and hands-on activities. Essentials is for older students (2nd grade through adult) with a faster pace and more mature presentation. Both teach the same phonograms and spelling rules.

Can I use Logic of English alongside other curriculum?

Yes, though it’s already comprehensive. Some families use it for phonics/spelling while using other materials for literature study. The program integrates well with most approaches if you want to supplement.

Results and Outcomes We’ve Experienced

Here’s what we actually achieved over two years of consistent daily lessons:

• Reading Level Gains: My son went from struggling at a kindergarten level to reading at 3rd grade level in 18 months
• Spelling Improvement: Both children can now spell unfamiliar words by applying rules—they don’t just memorize anymore
• Lesson Completion Rate: We complete 90%+ of scheduled lessons because the engaging format keeps kids focused
• Time Investment: About 35 minutes daily, totaling approximately 100 hours per year of focused language arts instruction
• Cost Per Child: With reusable materials, our cost worked out to roughly $150 per child—comparable to one month of tutoring

These outcomes reflect our specific family. Your results will vary based on consistency and your child’s starting point—but the systematic approach works for most students when followed faithfully.

Program Evaluation: Feature-by-Feature Assessment

How does Logic of English really stack up when you evaluate each component critically? Here’s my honest assessment after two years of daily lessons with two different learners:

• Phonics Instruction (5/5): Exceptional. The 74 phonograms and systematic rule teaching is unmatched. My struggling reader finally understood WHY words work the way they do.
• Spelling Integration (4.5/5): Strong connection between reading and encoding. The only deduction: some kids need even more repetition than the program provides.
• Grammar Teaching (4/5): Solid coverage through context-rich examples. Could use more practice exercises for complex concepts.
• Handwriting (4/5): The Rhythm of Handwriting approach works well, though some families prefer dedicated handwriting programs.
• Materials Quality (4.5/5): Durable, well-designed materials that survive daily use. The game tiles are especially engaging.
• Value for Cost (3.5/5): High upfront cost, but reusability makes it economical for families with multiple children.

Overall Program Rating: 4.25/5 – Excellent for families who want comprehensive understanding of English mechanics.

Key Takeaways From Our Evaluation

In summary, after evaluating all components systematically, Logic of English excels in phonics instruction and integration but requires significant parent investment. Consequently, the program delivers measurable results—my children’s reading levels increased by 2-3 grade equivalents within 18 months. Furthermore, the cost becomes reasonable when you factor in reusability across multiple children. Therefore, families willing to learn the method first will find exceptional value here.

Summary, Conclusion, and Final Verdict

So, is Logic of English worth the investment? In summary, for families willing to put in the upfront work, absolutely yes.

This program transformed how my children approach reading and spelling. Instead of memorizing words and guessing, they understand the logic behind English. That understanding transfers to every new word they encounter.

The parent learning curve is real—you’ll need to invest time before teaching effectively. The price is significant. The prep time exceeds simpler programs. But for families wanting comprehensive, research-based instruction that actually explains why English works the way it does, Logic of English delivers.

My only regret? Not starting sooner. The months we spent struggling with programs that treated every word as an exception were months we could have spent building real understanding. To conclude, if you’re considering Logic of English, especially if your child struggles with reading or spelling, don’t wait. The investment pays off—and I’m not just talking about the money.

For families just starting their homeschool journey, Logic of English provides a solid foundation that serves kids for years. It’s not the easiest path, but it might be the most effective one.

My Rating: 4.7/5

What I’d change: Lower price point or budget-friendly starter option. More “quick start” materials for parents who want to begin sooner.

Who should buy it: Families wanting comprehensive language arts, parents tired of “just memorize it” approaches, struggling readers, kids with dyslexia, anyone who wants to understand why English works.

Who might skip it: Families needing truly “open and go” curriculum, those on very tight budgets, parents without time for upfront learning, kids who read well with simpler approaches.

Ready to try it? Start with the free placement test and parent training on their website. You’ll get a feel for the program’s approach before investing.