Choosing a reading curriculum for your homeschool can feel like standing in an aisle with a thousand different boxes, each promising the best results. The labels are full of terms like Orton-Gillingham, phonics-based, and multisensory, and the pressure to pick the right one is immense. After all, you’re not just choosing a product; you’re laying the foundation for one of the most critical skills your child will ever learn. This guide is here to quiet the noise. We’ll walk you through a clear, step-by-step process for understanding your child’s needs, evaluating different teaching methods, and confidently selecting the perfect reading homeschool curriculum for your family.
Key Takeaways
- Look for a Research-Backed Structure: A curriculum built on the Science of Reading and a systematic method like Orton-Gillingham gives you a proven roadmap. This ensures you cover every essential skill in a logical order, which is critical for building a confident reader.
- Find the Right Fit for Your Homeschool: The right curriculum is a personal choice that should match your child’s learning style, your teaching schedule, and your budget. Taking time to assess these factors ensures you choose a program that is both sustainable and effective.
- Remember the Curriculum is a Tool, Not a Rulebook: Your role as a patient and observant teacher is key. Establish a consistent routine, but feel empowered to adjust the pace, shorten lessons, and offer support to meet your child’s needs and keep learning positive.
Why Homeschool with a Reading Curriculum?
One of the greatest parts of homeschooling is the freedom to create a learning environment that truly fits your child. But when it comes to teaching a skill as fundamental as reading, that freedom can feel a little daunting. Where do you even begin? A formal reading curriculum provides a clear, reliable roadmap, taking the guesswork out of your lessons and ensuring you cover all the essential bases. It’s about more than just reading books together; it’s about systematically teaching the skills your child needs to decode words, understand text, and develop a lifelong love for reading.
Using a well-designed curriculum means you don’t have to spend hours researching phonics rules or wondering if you’re missing a critical step. Everything is laid out for you, from the sequence of instruction to the materials you’ll need. This structure is especially helpful for children who may be struggling or have learning differences, as it provides the consistency and repetition they need to build confidence and mastery. It frees you up to focus on what you do best: connecting with your child and cheering them on as they learn and grow.
The Power of a Structured Approach
When we talk about a structured approach, we’re not talking about a rigid, one-size-fits-all system. Instead, it’s about teaching reading in a logical, step-by-step manner where each new skill builds directly on the one before it. This method, often based on the Orton-Gillingham approach, ensures there are no gaps in your child’s understanding. Think of it like building a house—you need a solid foundation before you can put up the walls. A structured literacy curriculum provides that strong foundation by explicitly teaching concepts like phonics in a clear, sequential way. This predictability helps children feel secure and successful as they move from learning letters and sounds to reading full sentences.
Support Different Learning Styles
Every child learns differently. Some are visual, needing to see concepts laid out. Others are auditory and learn best by hearing. And many are kinesthetic, needing to move and touch to make information stick. A great reading curriculum recognizes this and uses multisensory methods to engage children on all levels. This means lessons might involve tracing letters in sand, using colorful blocks to build words, or singing songs about vowel sounds. By presenting information through sight, sound, and touch, you make abstract concepts concrete and accessible. This approach not only makes learning more fun but also helps solidify connections in the brain, making it easier for your child to retain what they’ve learned.
Meet Your Child’s Individual Needs
The beauty of homeschooling is the ability to focus entirely on your child, and your curriculum should support that. A comprehensive program is designed to be adaptable, allowing you to move at your child’s pace and provide extra support where it’s needed most. Curriculums that align with the Science of Reading are built to support a wide range of learners, including those with diverse needs like dyslexia. Instead of trying to fit your child into a box, the right curriculum gives you the tools to tailor instruction to their specific strengths and challenges. This ensures they get the targeted, effective teaching required to become a skilled and confident reader.
What Are the Types of Reading Curriculums?
When you start looking for a reading curriculum, you’ll quickly realize there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Different programs are built on different teaching philosophies, and what works wonders for one child might not click with another. Understanding the main approaches is the first step toward finding the perfect fit for your family. Think of it like learning about different cooking methods—each one uses different tools and techniques to get to a delicious result.
The four main types you’ll encounter are phonics-based, literature-based, Orton-Gillingham, and balanced literacy. Each has its own strengths and focuses on developing reading skills in a unique way. Some prioritize the technical skills of decoding words, while others aim to foster a love of stories from day one. Knowing the difference will help you match a curriculum to your child’s learning style and your own teaching preferences, setting you both up for a more successful and enjoyable homeschooling journey.
Phonics-Based Programs
Phonics-based programs are all about cracking the code of written language. They teach reading by focusing on the relationship between letters and their sounds. If your child is just starting out or needs a solid foundation, this approach can be incredibly effective. These programs often include structured lessons that help children learn to decode words through phonics, moving systematically from simple sounds to more complex ones. This method directly aligns with the Science of Reading, which emphasizes the importance of explicit phonics instruction. By mastering these building blocks, kids gain the confidence to sound out new words on their own.
Literature-Based Programs
Literature-based programs take a different route, using whole books and engaging stories as the primary teaching tool. The idea is to immerse children in rich, meaningful texts right from the start. These programs often encourage a love of reading through exposure to a variety of high-quality literature, from picture books to classic novels. Instead of drilling letter sounds in isolation, the focus is on understanding the story, discussing characters, and learning vocabulary in context. This approach can be wonderful for cultivating a lifelong passion for books, but it may not provide enough direct, systematic instruction for children who struggle with decoding.
The Orton-Gillingham Method
The Orton-Gillingham method is a highly structured, multisensory approach designed specifically for learners who need more explicit instruction, including those with dyslexia. The PRIDE Reading Program is an Orton-Gillingham based phonetic reading program that provides an easy way for parents, teachers, or tutors to teach beginning or struggling readers. It uses structured lessons with phonics and multisensory activities, engaging sight, sound, and touch to help concepts stick. For example, a child might see the letter ‘b’, say its sound, and trace its shape in sand all at once. This methodical, step-by-step process ensures no gaps are left in a child’s learning.
Balanced Literacy Approaches
As the name suggests, balanced literacy approaches try to combine the best of both worlds. They mix elements of phonics instruction with the whole language techniques you see in literature-based programs. The goal is to create a comprehensive reading experience that builds both technical skills and a love for reading. A typical lesson might include a short phonics mini-lesson, followed by reading a book together and then writing about it. While the idea is appealing, the effectiveness of these programs often depends on how strong and systematic the phonics component is. For some learners, a more direct and structured literacy approach is necessary for true mastery.
A Look at Top Reading Homeschool Programs
Choosing a curriculum can feel like a huge decision, but the good news is there are fantastic, research-backed options available. Each program has a unique approach, so it’s all about finding the right fit for your child’s learning style and your family’s routine. To help you get started, here’s a look at some of the top reading homeschool programs that parents and educators trust.
PRIDE Reading Program
The PRIDE Reading Program is a comprehensive, Orton-Gillingham-based curriculum that’s incredibly user-friendly for parents. It’s designed with struggling readers in mind, making it a powerful tool for children with learning differences like dyslexia. The program breaks down reading into manageable, structured lessons that use a multisensory approach to engage kids through sight, sound, and touch. Because the lessons are scripted, you don’t need any special training to teach them effectively. You can simply open the guide and go, feeling confident that you’re providing explicit, systematic instruction that builds a strong foundation for reading success.
All About Reading
All About Reading is a popular choice known for its hands-on and multisensory activities. The program is designed to be fun and engaging, with lessons that typically take just 20 minutes a day. This makes it a great option for families with busy schedules or for younger children with shorter attention spans. It’s a comprehensive curriculum that uses a “no-gaps” approach, ensuring students master each concept before moving on. Many parents appreciate how easy the lessons are to teach, and the program is often recommended for a wide range of learners, whether they are just starting out or need a little extra support.
Logic of English
Logic of English is built on the idea that the English language is more predictable than it seems. This curriculum is grounded in the Science of Reading and integrates phonics, spelling, grammar, and handwriting into cohesive lessons. By teaching reliable phonics rules, it helps children understand the patterns and structure of words. This approach can be a game-changer for kids who get frustrated by seeming inconsistencies in spelling and pronunciation. The program uses engaging activities and games to reinforce concepts, making it a thorough and systematic option for building literacy skills.
Primary Phonics
If you’re looking for a straightforward and affordable program with a heavy emphasis on phonics, Primary Phonics is worth a look. This curriculum focuses on teaching reading by systematically introducing phonetic concepts with very few sight words. One of its standout features is the collection of fun storybooks that align with each lesson. These decodable books allow children to immediately apply what they’ve learned, which builds confidence and makes reading practice more enjoyable. Its simplicity and effectiveness make it a solid choice for kindergarten and early elementary students.
Explode the Code
Explode the Code is a simple, effective, and budget-friendly workbook series that many homeschool families love. It provides systematic phonics instruction through a variety of exercises that reinforce concepts like letter sounds, blending, and word families. While it can be used as a core curriculum for phonics, it’s often used as a supplementary tool alongside another reading program to provide extra practice. The workbooks are designed to be mostly independent, which can be a big help for busy parents. The program ensures kids fully grasp a topic before they move on, making it a reliable way to solidify foundational reading skills.
What Makes a Reading Curriculum Effective?
When you’re comparing reading programs, it’s easy to get lost in flashy websites and promises. But what truly makes a curriculum work? It comes down to a few core components that are proven to help children learn to read, especially those who might be struggling. A truly effective program isn’t just a collection of books; it’s a complete system designed to build skills logically and build a child’s confidence along the way. Let’s walk through the key features you should look for to ensure you’re choosing a curriculum that will set your child up for success.
Research-Based Methods
An effective curriculum is built on solid evidence of what works. This means it aligns with the Science of Reading, which emphasizes explicit instruction in phonics. The program should teach children the sounds that letters make and how to blend those sounds together to read words. Instead of encouraging guessing, a research-based approach gives kids the concrete tools they need to decode words accurately. This foundation is critical for all learners, but it’s especially important for children with learning differences like dyslexia. When a program is grounded in research, you can feel confident that you’re using proven strategies.
Systematic Instruction
Reading skills build on one another, like blocks. You can’t build the top of the tower before the bottom is secure. A curriculum with systematic instruction introduces concepts in a logical, step-by-step order, moving from simple to more complex. It ensures there are no gaps in a child’s learning and that each new skill is mastered before the next one is introduced. This is a core principle of the Orton-Gillingham approach, which provides a clear, structured path for students. This predictable structure helps reduce confusion and anxiety, allowing children to focus on learning.
Multisensory Learning
Kids learn in different ways, and the best curriculums account for this by engaging multiple senses. Multisensory learning involves using sight, sound, touch, and even movement to help concepts stick. For example, a child might see the letter ‘b’, say its sound out loud, trace its shape with their finger, and write it in the air. This approach creates more pathways in the brain for information to be stored and retrieved. For many children, especially kinesthetic learners or those with dyslexia, this hands-on method is the key to finally making reading click.
Clear Parent Guides
You don’t need a degree in education to teach your child to read, but you do need clear instructions. A great homeschool curriculum comes with easy-to-follow, scripted lesson plans that tell you exactly what to say and do. This takes the guesswork out of teaching and ensures you’re delivering the lesson as it was designed. Look for a homeschool curriculum that provides open-and-go guides, so you can spend less time prepping and more time connecting with your child. These guides should empower you to teach with confidence, knowing you have expert support right at your fingertips.
Tools to Monitor Progress
How do you know if your child is actually learning? An effective curriculum should have built-in tools to help you track their progress. This might include initial placement assessments to find the right starting point, short quizzes after each lesson, and unit reviews to check for mastery. These check-ins aren’t about high-stakes testing; they’re about identifying areas where your child is excelling and where they might need a little more practice. This feedback loop is essential for tailoring the instruction to your child’s needs and celebrating their hard-earned achievements along the way.
The Building Blocks of a Strong Reader
Becoming a confident reader is a lot like building a house. You can’t just put up the walls and call it a day; you need a solid foundation and several key components that all work together. When you’re looking at reading curriculums, you’ll want to see how they address each of these essential building blocks. A comprehensive program doesn’t just teach kids to sound out words—it gives them the full set of tools they need to read with skill, understanding, and even enjoyment.
From understanding the sounds in spoken language to making sense of a complex story, each of these skills depends on the others. A strong curriculum will guide your child through them in a logical, step-by-step way. Let’s look at the five core components that every effective reading program should include to build a strong, capable reader.
Phonological Awareness
Before children can read words, they need to be able to hear the sounds within them. That’s where phonological awareness comes in. This is the ability to recognize and play with the sounds in spoken language—like rhyming, clapping out syllables, or identifying the first sound in a word like “ball.” It’s a crucial first step that happens entirely through listening. Programs that focus on this skill help children develop a strong foundation for reading. This auditory skill is a key part of the Science of Reading and prepares the brain for connecting sounds to written letters.
Phonics and Decoding
Once a child has a good ear for sounds, the next step is connecting those sounds to actual letters. This is phonics. Decoding is the process of using that letter-sound knowledge to read words. A systematic approach is essential here, which is why many successful programs use the Orton-Gillingham method. This approach provides a structured, multisensory way for students to learn the relationships between letters and sounds. Instead of guessing, children learn reliable rules and patterns that empower them to sound out new words with confidence, giving them the tools to read independently.
Reading Fluency
Have you ever listened to a child read in a slow, choppy way? They are working hard to decode, but they haven’t yet achieved fluency. Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. It’s what makes reading sound smooth and natural, and it’s a bridge to better comprehension. When a child doesn’t have to struggle with each word, they can focus their mental energy on what the text means. Fluency is developed through guided practice and repeated reading of words and sentences, which is why a homeschool reading curriculum with structured lessons is so important for building this skill.
Vocabulary Growth
A child could decode every word in a sentence perfectly, but if they don’t know what the words mean, they won’t understand what they’re reading. That’s why vocabulary growth is so important. A strong reading program doesn’t just teach vocabulary through flashcards; it integrates new words into lessons and stories. This helps students learn words in context, making the definitions more meaningful and easier to remember. Expanding a child’s vocabulary is essential for improving their reading comprehension and their ability to express their own ideas, forming a critical part of a complete structured literacy curriculum.
Comprehension Skills
Reading comprehension is the ultimate goal of learning to read. It’s the ability to understand, interpret, and find meaning in a text. This skill relies on all the other building blocks: phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, and vocabulary. When these elements are strong, a child can move beyond simply reading the words to thinking about what they mean. Effective programs emphasize understanding from the very beginning, teaching children to make sense of words and sentences rather than just memorizing them. This focus is vital for developing the strong comprehension abilities needed for academic success and a lifelong love of reading.
Overcoming Common Reading Hurdles
Teaching your child to read is a rewarding journey, but it’s rarely a straight line. You’ll likely encounter bumps, detours, and moments of frustration along the way. That’s completely normal. Every child learns differently and at their own pace. The key is to anticipate these common hurdles and have a plan for how to approach them with patience and flexibility. Instead of seeing these challenges as setbacks, think of them as opportunities to better understand your child’s unique learning style and needs. By staying positive and adaptable, you can work through any obstacle together and keep the learning process encouraging and effective.
Manage Short Attention Spans
If your child has trouble sitting still for a full lesson, you’re not alone. Young learners, especially those who are active and hands-on, often have short attention spans. Forcing them to focus for long periods can lead to frustration for both of you. Instead, try breaking lessons into smaller, 5- to 10-minute chunks throughout the day. A short phonics practice in the morning, a quick game with letter cards after lunch, and reading a decodable book before bed can be more effective than one long session. Incorporating multisensory methods that involve touch, movement, and listening can also keep your child engaged and make learning feel more like play.
Determine Reading Readiness
It’s easy to get caught up in timelines, but there is no magic age for learning to read. Some children are ready at four, while others may not be ready until six or seven—and that’s perfectly fine. If you start a program and your child is consistently resistant or overwhelmed, they might not be developmentally ready. Pushing them can create negative associations with reading. Don’t be afraid to pause the curriculum and try again in a few months. In the meantime, you can build foundational skills by reading aloud to them, playing with rhyming words, and exploring alphabet books. Readiness is less about age and more about developmental signs, though sometimes struggles can point to underlying learning differences like dyslexia.
Stay Consistent with Lessons
Once you’ve found a curriculum that fits your child’s needs, try to stick with it. While it can be tempting to switch programs if you hit a rough patch, doing so can often confuse your child. Different programs introduce concepts in different orders and use different language, which can disrupt the learning process. A well-designed structured program builds skills sequentially, with each lesson laying the groundwork for the next. Consistency creates a predictable and stable learning environment, allowing your child to build confidence as they master each new skill. If you feel a program isn’t working, first try adjusting your pace or approach before abandoning it entirely.
Work Through Frustration
Tears and frustration can happen, especially when a child is struggling with a difficult concept. When this occurs, the most important thing you can do is remain calm and supportive. Acknowledge their feelings by saying something like, “I can see this is tricky, but we can work through it together.” Sometimes, the best solution is to take a short break. Step away for a few minutes, do something fun, and then return to the lesson with a fresh perspective. A structured literacy approach can also help minimize frustration by making the rules of reading clear and predictable, giving your child a reliable framework for decoding words.
Adjust Your Teaching Pace
One of the greatest advantages of homeschooling is the ability to tailor the education to your child’s specific needs. A reading curriculum is a guide, not a rigid script. Pay close attention to your child’s progress and adjust your pace accordingly. Some children need more time and repetition to master a new phonics rule, while others might grasp it quickly and be ready to move on. Don’t feel pressured to complete one lesson per day. If your child needs a week to truly understand a concept, take that time. Meeting your child’s individual needs is the goal, and a flexible pace ensures they build a strong, confident foundation without gaps in their understanding.
How to Choose the Right Reading Curriculum
Picking a reading curriculum can feel like a huge decision, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The goal is to find a program that fits your child’s unique learning style and your family’s teaching rhythm. A curriculum isn’t just a set of books; it’s a roadmap for one of the most important skills your child will ever learn. The best choice will be one that feels supportive for you as the teacher and engaging for your child as the student.
Think of this process as a matching game. You’re looking for the curriculum that aligns with your child’s current abilities, your teaching capacity, and your budget. By breaking down the decision into a few key areas, you can confidently select a program that sets your child up for a lifetime of reading success. Let’s walk through the most important factors to consider so you can find the perfect fit for your homeschool.
Assess Your Child’s Needs
Before you even look at a curriculum, take a moment to observe your child. You know them better than anyone. Where are they on their reading journey? A child who is just beginning to learn letters needs a different starting point than one who can already sound out simple words. If your child is starting from scratch, look for a program with a gentle pace and plenty of repetition. If they have some foundational skills, a program that moves a bit faster might keep them more engaged. Also, consider any specific learning challenges they might face, such as dyslexia, as this will guide you toward programs designed with their needs in mind.
Evaluate Teaching Methods
How a curriculum teaches reading is just as important as what it teaches. A strong program should be built on research-backed principles, often referred to as the Science of Reading. This means it should explicitly and systematically teach phonics—the relationship between letters and sounds. For many children, especially those who struggle with reading, a multisensory approach is incredibly effective. Methods like the Orton-Gillingham approach use sight, sound, touch, and movement to help concepts stick. Look for a curriculum that clearly explains its teaching philosophy and provides structured, easy-to-follow lessons.
Consider Your Time Commitment
Now, let’s be realistic about your own schedule. Some reading curriculums require a lot of prep work—printing worksheets, cutting out flashcards, and gathering materials for each lesson. Others are designed to be “open-and-go,” with everything you need laid out and ready. Think about how much time you can dedicate to lesson preparation each day or week. If you’re juggling multiple kids or a busy schedule, a program with scripted lessons and minimal prep can be a lifesaver. It allows you to focus your energy on teaching and connecting with your child rather than on administrative tasks.
Review Program Materials
The quality of the materials can make or break your experience with a curriculum. Are the instructor guides clear and easy to understand, even if you don’t have a teaching background? A good program should feel like it’s coaching you through each step. Look for engaging student materials, like colorful workbooks and compelling stories. High-quality decodable books are especially important, as they allow your child to practice their new skills with texts they can successfully read. The materials should be durable, well-organized, and designed to support the learning process, not complicate it.
Compare Costs
Finally, consider the budget. The price of reading curriculums can vary widely, so it’s important to understand what you’re getting for your money. Some programs require you to buy new materials for every level, while others might have a one-time purchase for a teacher’s manual that you can use for several years. Look at the long-term cost, not just the initial price tag. A more expensive, comprehensive program that you can use with multiple children might be a better investment than a cheaper one you have to replace or supplement frequently. Think about the overall value and how it aligns with your family’s budget.
Set Up Your Homeschool for Success
Once you’ve chosen a reading curriculum, the next step is to create a learning environment where your child can thrive. A little bit of planning goes a long way in making your homeschool reading lessons smooth, effective, and enjoyable for both of you. Setting up a solid routine and having your resources in order helps you stay consistent and focused on what truly matters: helping your child become a confident reader. Think of it as building the perfect stage for learning to happen. With the right setup, you can turn potential challenges into opportunities for growth and connection.
Create a Learning Schedule
One of the biggest perks of homeschooling is flexibility, so use it to your advantage. You don’t need to replicate a traditional school day. For young children, shorter, more frequent lessons are often far more effective. A child’s attention span is limited, so a 10-minute focused session can accomplish more than a frustrating 30-minute block. You can even split lessons into smaller chunks throughout the day. The goal is consistency, not duration. A predictable routine helps your child know what to expect, which can reduce resistance and make learning a natural part of their day. A great homeschool curriculum will be designed with this kind of flexibility in mind, allowing you to teach at a pace that works for your family.
Organize Your Materials
Before you start teaching, take a moment to think about how much prep time you can realistically commit. Some reading programs require a lot of printing, cutting, and organizing before each lesson. If you have limited time, look for a curriculum that comes with open-and-go materials. Having everything you need in one place saves you from last-minute scrambling and keeps the lesson flowing smoothly. When your materials are organized, you can focus your energy on teaching, not on searching for a missing flashcard. Using resources like pre-made decodable books and practice pages means you can dive right into the lesson with confidence and ease.
How to Track Progress
Knowing if your child is truly grasping the material is key to their long-term success. An effective reading curriculum will have simple, built-in ways to check for understanding. This isn’t about high-pressure testing; it’s about gentle check-ins that show you where your child is excelling and where they might need a little more practice. Simple workbook pages or quick review activities after a lesson can give you valuable insight. This is a core component of a structured literacy approach, ensuring a child masters one concept before moving to the next. Regular progress monitoring helps you celebrate their wins and provides a clear path forward, making sure no skill gaps are left behind.
Find Supplemental Resources
Your main curriculum is your foundation, but supplemental resources can make learning to read even more engaging. Think of these as fun extras that reinforce the skills your child is learning. This could be anything from a trip to the library to pick out exciting books to playing a phonics-based game on a tablet. When you find resources that align with your child’s interests, it shows them that reading is more than just a lesson—it’s a gateway to new worlds and ideas. You can also use complementary materials like Alphabet Books to strengthen foundational knowledge in a playful, low-pressure way.
Use Digital Learning Tools
Incorporating digital tools can be a fantastic way to keep your child engaged and cater to different learning styles. Many apps and online programs use multisensory activities, like tracing letters on a screen or matching sounds to pictures, which can be especially helpful for children with learning differences like dyslexia. These interactive experiences can make abstract concepts like phonics feel more concrete and fun. Digital tools shouldn’t replace your core instruction, but they can serve as a powerful supplement to reinforce skills. They offer a different way to practice and can provide the repetition some children need to achieve mastery, all while feeling like playtime.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child resists the curriculum I chose? First, know that this is completely normal and doesn’t mean you’ve failed or picked the wrong program. Resistance is often a clue. Try to figure out the “why” behind it. Is the lesson too long? Is a specific concept feeling too difficult? Often, the solution is to adjust your approach rather than the curriculum itself. Try breaking the lesson into shorter, 10-minute chunks or spending an extra day on a tricky skill. The consistency of a single, systematic program is powerful, so it’s usually best to tweak your delivery before you consider switching to something new.
Is an Orton-Gillingham program only for children with dyslexia? Not at all. While the Orton-Gillingham approach is incredibly effective for children with dyslexia, its core principles benefit all learners. The method is structured, sequential, and multisensory, which is simply a clear and effective way to teach reading to anyone. It ensures that no foundational skills are missed, building a solid base for reading success. Think of it as providing the strongest possible foundation, which is something every new reader deserves.
How long should our daily reading lessons actually be? Focus on quality and consistency over quantity. For most young learners, a focused session of 15 to 20 minutes is far more productive than a frustrating hour-long lesson. If your child’s attention starts to wander, that’s a good sign that it’s time for a break. A short, positive lesson every day will build skills and confidence much more effectively than infrequent, marathon sessions that end in tears.
My child can sound out words but doesn’t understand what they’re reading. What should I do? This is a common hurdle and it means your child has mastered decoding but now needs to build the bridge to comprehension. The best way to do this is to slow down and start talking about the text. After they read a sentence, pause and ask a simple question like, “What did the cat do?” or “How do you think she feels?” This encourages them to think about the meaning behind the words, not just the sounds. Building their vocabulary by discussing new words as you encounter them is also essential for improving understanding.
Can I combine different curriculums or just use free resources? While it can be tempting to pull from various sources, it’s often best to stick with one comprehensive, structured program. A well-designed curriculum introduces skills in a specific, logical order where each lesson builds on the one before it. Mixing different methods can create confusion and leave gaps in your child’s learning. Free resources and games can be fantastic for extra practice, but they typically work best as a supplement to a core curriculum that provides that essential systematic instruction.