Language Patterns
Science of Reading Structured Literacy Resources
All you will need
To teach them to read.
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Yes. Language Patterns is based on a vast body of settled science—the “science of reading”.
Yes. Language Patterns directly reflects the requirements of science-based ELA curricula that have been recently implemented in many Canadian provinces. It also conforms to the recommendations of recent Human Rights Commissions reports on the Right to Read.
Yes. Like any good Structured Literacy program, Language Patterns provides explicit instruction in:
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phonemic awareness
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phonics
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decoding and encoding (spelling)
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vocabulary
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fluency
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comprehension
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includes fully decodable texts in a variety of genres
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Language Patterns
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offers stories, poems and information texts that are much more like real literature than most decodables
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provides students with a wealth of cultural information and world knowledge
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fosters critical thinking and reflection
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fosters imaginative thinking and creativity
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exposes students to a rich vocabulary
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fully integrates phonemic awareness, word-level knowledge, morphology and syntax, and writing into a carefully sequenced phonics progression
- respects the "decodability contract": all student materials, including worksheet instructions, are fully decodable
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includes sequenced structured writing activities that directly correspond to students’ phonics, morphological and syntactic knowledge
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is 100% Canadian, and provides content which reflects the diversity of Indigenous, settler and immigrant cultures in Canada
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Yes, Language Patterns is compatible with UFLI.
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It can also be combined with SyllaSense or other decodable series.
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Tables showing the correspondence among programs are available on this website.
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Consonant Clusters ("Blends")
Language Patterns introduces and emphasises consonant-to-consonant blending earlier many other programs. Consonant clusters are introduced as soon as they are decodable. For example, students are given words ending in -ts as soon as they have learned “s” and “t”.Words beginning “st” are introduced not long after.
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Digraphs
Double consonants and few other digraphs (th and ng) are introduced very early, before all the short vowel sounds have been learned. This helps the students become familiar with the concept of a “letter-team” before they are giving rarer or more difficult spelling patterns to learn. It also vastly expands the vocabulary, and particularly the morphology and syntax the students can read *without* resorting to many “study words” students cannot yet decode
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Morphology
Morphemes such as final “-s,” “ing” and “ed” are also introduced as soon as they can be decoded. For example, -ed /ed/ is introduced before the other two sounds of “ed”.
These three tweaks permit a richer and livelier vocabulary and a wider range of content than is possible in other programs, while at the same time decreasing the number of exception words required in the early stages. They also promote a higher level of phonemic awareness and decoding skill.
If you are using Language Patterns as an adjunct to another program, you will need to begin teaching consonant to consonant blending somewhat earlier than may be called for in your core program. This is easily done, and makes it less likely that students will confuse the various consonant clusters when they meet them in your core program.
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Language Patterns is sequenced for teaching and learning. In general, the scope and sequence of Language Patterns is based on practical linguistic considerations. These include:
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which phonemes are easiest to learn and blend
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which give access to the most useful vocabulary
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which letters are simplest to learn to print
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which are the least visually confusable
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which are the least confusable acoustically/phonemically
Easily confusable letter-sound associations and spelling patterns are deliberately separated so that students can master one before encountering the other. For this reason, the programme cannot be neatly split into CVCs, CCVCs, “signal letters” etc..
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Yes. In fact, the Word Work decodables are directly based on the Language Patterns program and follow the same sequence.
Language Patterns provides worksheets which serve as vital preparation for
reading the otherwise quite challenging Word Work stories. These can be downloaded from this site, or purchased as workbooks in both student and teacher editions.
In addition, Language Patterns offers hard copies of the stories and poems in Word Work grade 1. These adorable little physical books are a valuable complement to Edwin's screen-based format.-
Yes. Language Patterns is intended to be a comprehensive, stand-alone Language Arts program.
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However, it can also be used to supplement to another, science-based Structured Literacy program.
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Yes, Language Patterns has been used effectively with all reading levels, from highly
advanced readers to students requiring Tier 2 intervention.
HOWEVER: In order to ensure that they enjoy reading each of the decodable stories,
students should first complete the corresponding worksheets (freely downloadable from
this site. Otherwise, most students are likely to find the texts too challenging, and they
are likely to become discouraged.Absolutely. The original version of Language Patterns was used successfully in the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia. Orders placed through this website can be shipped anywhere in the world.
Book Samples
The Grade One collection is divided into six series. Each series is linked to the systematic instruction of the corresponding Working with Letters and Sounds worksheets, which are available free on this site.
Sam
Sam
Book 1, Series 1
Tom Kicks
Tom Kicks
Book 10, Series 2
The Husky Helps
The Husky Helps
Book 23, Series 3
The Best Shot
The Best Shot
Book 27, Series 4
At the Clinic
At the Clinic
Book 43, Series 5
Bubbles
Bubbles
Book 50, Series 6
