Why Is English So Weird? A 12-week, one-on-one course that’s empowering, playful, and sneakily sophisticated.
English spelling isn’t random — it’s a mix of influences from farmers, doctors, and chefs who all brought different languages (and alphabets!) into English. Students learn to ask one powerful question: Who would use this word?
This becomes their key to understanding spelling patterns that once felt unpredictable.
Perfect for: Kids who decode but still struggle with spelling, vocabulary, or "tricky words."
Meet our friends! They’re the reason English is… well, English.
Meet Farmer Joe
Does Farmer Joe eat bread or baguettes?
Meet Dr. Schoolious
Is Dr. Schoolious a teacher or an educator?
Meet Chef Jacques
Does Chef Jacques eat in a restaurant or pub?
These guys all ended up in England (and we do speak English), but they didn’t arrive together. They came from different places, at different times, speaking different languages. They didn’t even always use the same alphabet.
That alone explains a lot about why
spelling feels so mixed and unpredictable.
How It Works
Instead of grinding through “tricky word” lists, students learn to ask a simple question:
Who would use this word — a farmer, a doctor, or a chef?
That question becomes the key to understanding why a word is spelled the way it is.
It also gives students a clear sense of what can be decoded… and what truly needs to be memorized.
And by introducing Latin roots, this course lays the foundation for advanced vocabulary development — helping students unlock words they used to skip or guess at.
Not Sure If Your Child Needs Foundations, WIESW or Morphopenemia?
Book a free phonemic-awareness mini-assessment. You’ll get real, practical insight into what might be blocking your child’s reading progress — and a custom video game hand-picked for your child based on what we learn.
Why Is English So Weird? A 12-week, one-on-one course that’s empowering, playful, and sneakily sophisticated.
Terms and Conditions: Why Is English So Weird
Learning Guarantee Active Reader guarantees one grade level of growth within the first eight weeks when all conditions below are met. If your child does not advance a full grade level, you will receive a free month of live sessions and full access to the program ($500 value).
Non-Reader Progress Includes: • Naming and writing lowercase letters • Accurate short-vowel and consonant sounds • Segmenting/blending 2–4 phoneme words • Counting syllables in 1–3 syllable words
Reader Progress May Include: • Advancing one level on oral reading fluency • Improving WCPM by one grade level
Conditions for the Guarantee Learning Environment & Attendance • Student arrives on time • Quiet workspace at a desk or table • No more than six days between sessions • Parent/guardian on camera for first 8 sessions
Required Practice (4 days/week) • Letter formation • Online games • Orthographic Mapping tasks
Scheduling Policies • 24+ hour reschedule: no charge • Same-day reschedule: $25 • Changes within 2 hours: charged as a full session; may affect guarantee if >6 days between sessions
A Note on ADHD Dyslexia and ADHD often overlap. Kids may need breaks, movement, and support. Parent should remain close by for highly active students.
Tools Used • Whiteboard, fresh black marker, eraser • On-screen annotations • Online games; WordWall.com recommended • Movement activities (handstands/headstands) • Optional app: What's Changed? (iPhone/iPad)