Home › Reading & phonics › Comparisons
Two homeschool reading and phonics programs, compared on what actually decides the fit: how your child reads now, how much you'll teach, and how each one is delivered.
Updated September 2026 · based on parent reviews and publisher information
Still torn? Answer a few questions and see how both rank for your child, side by side.
Compare for my child| Logic of English Foundations | Barton Reading & Spelling System | |
|---|---|---|
| Grades | PreK–2 | K–12+ (tutoring system) |
| Approach | Orton-Gillingham, systematic | Orton-Gillingham, remedial |
| Who teaches | The parent teaches from a scripted guide | The parent teaches from a scripted guide |
| Parent prep | Low (fully scripted) | Low (fully scripted, DVD-trained) |
| Screen time | Mostly offline (books and paper) | Mostly offline (books and paper) |
| Faith | No religious content | No religious content |
| Cost | About $88–$115 per level bundle (Foundations A–D); a digital-only version runs about $75 a year | Level 1 (All Digital Single Version): $350; Level 2 also $350, Levels 3–10 run $400 each |
| Parents love |
|
|
| Common complaints |
|
|
Parents like that Foundations wraps reading, spelling, handwriting and grammar into one scripted program, so there's nothing else to buy for the early years. The most common frustration is cost across four levels, and a few parents find the multisensory games take longer than a plain phonics lesson.
Reviewers and parents consistently call Barton the strongest home-based option for a child with dyslexia, with training DVDs and full scripting so no teaching background is needed. The cost per level is real money, and several reviews describe the drilling as repetitive and not especially fun, even while calling it effective.
Neither is better for every child. Logic of English Foundations is the stronger fit for not yet reading; just starting (letter sounds); no. Barton Reading & Spelling System is the stronger fit for others.
Logic of English Foundations: About $88–$115 per level bundle (Foundations A–D); a digital-only version runs about $75 a year. Barton Reading & Spelling System: Level 1 (All Digital Single Version): $350; Level 2 also $350, Levels 3–10 run $400 each.
Summaries are in our own words.