To purchase the Essentials Set online, click here to order from Logic of English.
Recommended for ages 8 to adult, for anyone who wants to learn why English words are spelled the way they are, Essentials teaches reading, spelling, grammar and vocabulary using quite a variety of methods.
- Differentiated instruction
- Three levels of spelling and vocabulary in each lesson
- Discovery-based instruction
- Engaging activities
- Meaningful practice
- Scripted lessons
- Extensive helps and teacher tips
- Phonograms
- Spelling Rules
- Parts of Speech, punctuation rules, capitalization rules
- Efficient vocabulary instruction with prefixes, suffixes, and Greek and Latin roots
Essentials 1-7 Complete Set This set includes all the components of Essentials needed to teach the first seven lessons of the curriculum—typically a quarter to a semester depending on your pace—to one student. (If you have multiple students, a * indicates products you'll need copies for each)
Recommended additional materials:
- Student Whiteboard - recommended (included in Rhythm of Handwriting Complete Set)
- Rhythm of Handwriting (if handwriting instruction is needed)
- The Essentials Reader, with accompanying Student Activity Book and Essentials Reader Teacher's Guide - reading comprehension supplement, recommended with Essentials for struggling readers age 8 and up.
- Materials for Essentials Lessons 8-30 - after completing these lessons
Essentials is Recommended for
- Ages 8 to adult
- Anyone who wants to learn why English words are spelled the way they are
- As a spelling, grammar, and vocabulary program for Grades 2-6
- Struggling readers age 8 and up
- Struggling spellers age 8 and up
- Students with dyslexia
- Students continuing from Foundations who are ready to go deeper with the phonograms and rules, build spelling mastery, and learn grammar and new vocabulary concepts
Prerequisites
- None. See notes below if the student needs handwriting instruction.
- If needed, use the ten optional Pre-Lessons in the 1-7 Teacher's Guide to strengthen foundational skills before beginning Lesson 1. There is a Placement Test to help you determine the right starting point for each student.
Learn More
- Essentials: Multi-Level Reading, Spelling, Vocabulary, and Grammar
- Testimonials and Reviews
Handwriting Styles
- Essentials does not teach handwriting. Students may complete Essentials lessons with either cursive or manuscript handwriting; the sample text is in a standard bookface font to allow greater flexibility.
- Choose your second set of Phonogram Game Cards (using the drop down menu above) according to which handwriting style the student is using. This enables students to practice reading the phonograms both as they appear in books and as they appear in writing.
If Handwriting Instruction is Needed
- If the student struggles with handwriting or needs handwriting instruction, introduce either cursive or manuscript using The Rhythm of Handwriting. The Essentials Pre-Lessons include a suggested schedule for integrating Rhythm of Handwriting instruction.
- Learn why we recommend beginning handwriting instruction with cursive.
Continuing through Essentials
After completing these lessons, add the new materials for Lessons 8-15. Continue with Lessons 16-22 and 23-30 when you are ready for them. At a pace of one lesson per week, you can complete all 30 lessons in a school year; at a pace of half a lesson per week you will complete about 15 lessons in a school year. The entire curriculum, Lessons 1-30, can then be reused up to two additional times at a more advanced level of instruction.
Did you find this review helpful?