What is the best phonics curriculum? Discover the TOP 8 Synthetic Phonics Programs to Teach Your Child to Read in 2024!

UPDATED – September 2024! NEW DIGITAL CURRICULUM ADDED TO THE RANKING!

Do you feel overwhelmed trying to find the right learn-to-read program for your child or student? Look no further because you are on the right place!

Our newest ranking of the best learn-to-read programs in 2024 uncovers 7 fantastic literacy curriculums. Separate the cream from the chaff and read on to discover which one will suit your child’s better!

While they’re all solid choices, some programs may suit your little (or older) learner’s needs better than others.

*Affiliate Disclosure: Some links lead to Amazon marketplace. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional cost to you. This helps keep the information on the blog free and available to everyone. There may be other affiliate links on the article.

I know how confusing looking for reading programs can be! So, I have done the homework for you!

By the end of this article, you will get a crystal clear view of the best reading programs out there for teaching your child to read. Hopefully, you’ ll also know exactly which one suits your child’s learning style better!

However, before we start, I would like to be upfront with you, and tell you where I personally stand with regards to the huge debate there is about phonics vs. whole word methodologies vs. balanced literacy.

I truly believe that phonics is the best approach for teaching children to read.

However, my belief is not just a belief, it is based on overwhelming evidence and on what modern science has to say about how the brain works and how we learn to read.

So, the learn-to-read curriculums that I have shortlisted are all PHONICS PROGRAMS…

What’s the best phonics program for my kid? Ranking of the top Synthetic Phonics Curricula in 2024!

Not all phonics programs are created equal…

Not at all!

There are significant differences among them. My preference, which—again—is based on modern scientific research, is for research-based, synthetic phonics programs.

By the way, if you are confused by the terminology, don’t worry! You can check out this article, where I explain more in detail what synthetic phonics is. Or this article, where I explain the differences between analytic and synthetic phonics.

I am also aware that different children need different learning styles. Some kids benefit greatly from a multi-sensory learning approach, while others may require very explicit and structured lessons, along with plenty of practice opportunities.

Moreover, we—as parents and families—have different lifestyles, circumstances, and preferences…

Some of us just want clear guidance and don’t want to overthink! We want to be told what to do, perhaps by following a script. Others appreciate a program that offers some flexibility and don’t mind a little extra preparation.

That’s why I’ve also shortlisted programs with different teaching and learning styles.

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

So, without further ado, let’s get started!

Program Name	How to buy?	Who is it for?	System Used	Levels	Great if you want...	Reading & Spelling?	What is the price?	Guarantee
Children Learning Reading	From the Children Learning Reading Website!	Great for young readers and for reinforcing reading instruction at home, if your child goes to school.	Unique system that combines Phonemic Awareness and Synthetic Phonics	Only 1. Everything is included in this one level.	Simple and short lessons, convenient implementation (Doesn’t get messy!)	Reading instruction only, spelling / writing not covered specifically.	$39.00 - $89.00	30-day money-back guarantee.
All About Reading	From their website!	Great for children that learn best through multi-sensory experiences. Very popular homeschooling curriculum.	Orton-Gillingham.	5 Reading Levels + 7 Spelling Levels (All About Spelling)	A multi-sensory program and very explicit instruction. Very good option for homeschooling, and for children with reading difficulties.	Tackles spelling and reading separately.	Each Level is $149 + one-off purchase of interactive kit ($45.85 -$21.85).	Full 1-year money- back guarantee
Hooked on Phonics	From their website!	For children that thrive on a very clear routine when it comes to learning, and appreciate the use of audio-visuals elements (video lessons).	Sequential, systematic synthetic phonics approach.	8 Reading Levels. You can complement reading instruction with their app for an even more complete curriculum.	A very simple, but fun approach that uses audio-visuals elements (video lessons, app) . Very good for busy parents! The hard work is done for you!	Tackles reading and spelling. However, an additional spelling practice pack can be purchased for further practice.	Complete Learn to Read Kit (all levels): $209	30-day money-back guarantee.
Reading.com	Try Free Here!	Beginning readers. Takes children from basic letter recognition skills to approx. 2nd grade reading level.	Based on solid synthetic phonics principles and the Direct Instruction method to teaching reading.	1 (all in one app!)	A digital curriculum with super convenient implementation.	Only reading.	Free trial. After that, only $6.25 a month (yearly subscription) or $12.49/month (monthly subscription).	Cancel anytime. No lock-in contract.
Logic of English	From their website!	For children that learn through multi-sensory experiences, and children with dyslexia or other reading difficulties. Another popular homeschooling curriculum.	Orton-Gillingham.	Their Essential Package includes 3 Reading Levels (a, b, c).	A multi-sensory program, that also goes really deep into rules (into the ‘logic of English’).	Tackles spelling, writing and reading all together. Another very popular curriculum for home schooling.	Foundations Module: From $74.99 (per level). Whole Essential Package: $159.99 - $279.99	90- day money-back guarantee.
Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons	Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons on Amazon!	Great program to teach any child to read from scratch in a one-to-one setting (direct instruction).	DISTAR System (Direct Instructional System for Teaching and Remediation).	Only 1. Everything included in 1 manual!	To be taken by the hand following a script, and following a system that has been proven to work.	Only reading.	Very affordable. Normally sold for less than $20. Check final price on Amazon!	Amazon T&C's.
Alpha Phonics	Buy Alpha Phonics on Amazon!	For anyone looking for a no-frills phonics-based system.	Phonics Primer. Uses synthetic phonics principles.	1 (everything included in 1 manual)	Simple / no-frills program that is easy to follow and implement.	Only reading	Very affordable. Normally less $20. Check final price on Amazon.	Amazon T&C's.
Phonics Pathways	Buy Phonics Pathways on Amazon!	Struggling readers, students that find blending particularly difficult, or students with learning disabilities, such us dyslexia.	Systematic synthetic phonics in combination with the successive blending approach.	1 (everything included in 1 single manual)	The best option we know of if you want to try successive blending.	Reading + spelling appendix.	Very affordable. Approx. $20. Check final price on Amazon.	Amazon T&C's.

Reading Program #1: Children Learning Reading

If you know me, it’s no secret that I love this phonics program. I used it with my older daughter, and her progress was amazing. I wrote a detailed review of the Children Learning Reading program, which you can check here.

This reading curriculum combines Phonemic Awareness and Synthetic Phonics principles, which is unique and, in my experience, very effective!

Phonemic Awareness is the ability to identify and manipulate the individual sounds in words, also called “phonemes.”

Developing Phonemic Awareness is crucial because it’s a strong predictor of successful reading. The program’s focus on this is fantastic!

The Children Learning Reading program is designed in two stages: foundational and advanced. Each stage includes a manual and short, daily lessons (as short as two minutes!). The initial lessons are simple, perfect for very young readers. As your child progresses, the lessons build on each other, creating a compounding effect.

Each stage comes with its own manual and lessons. These lessons are short and will take between two to twenty minutes/day to complete.

Yes, two minutes!

This is because this program was created with young readers in mind. When I say young readers, I am talking about really young readers!

By the end of Manual 1, your child will be able to read simple words like CVC words (e.g., “cat,” “dog,” “cup”) fluently, without pauses. They’ll also handle more complex words like CCVC words (e.g., “spin,” “flip”).

In Stage 2, your child will systematically learn advanced concepts like letter combination sounds (“ch,” “th,” “sh”) and the various ways to represent the same sound (e.g., /f/ as in “fan,” “photo,” or “laugh”). The program introduces these concepts gradually, so your child won’t feel overwhelmed.

You can watch the progress of a student in the Children Learning Reading program to get an idea of what I mean!

  

Any Cons to the Children Learning Reading Program?

The teaching style may not suit every child. While there are some fun activities, this isn’t a multi-sensory program, and some kids might find it repetitive. The program is also only available as a digital download, which means you’ll need to print the materials yourself. Additionally, it’s not a complete spelling or writing curriculum, so you might need to supplement those areas.

Overall, this is one of the best phonics curriculums available, and if you follow the process, you’ll see great results.

NOTE: If you decide to buy this curriculum, keep in mind that these worksheets are offered as an additional one-off purchase. You can still succeed at teaching your child to read without them, but they are a nice complement to the rest of the learn-to-read materials.

Reading Program #2: All About Reading/All About Spelling

This well-known program is highly regarded for its multi-sensory approach, which is especially beneficial for children who learn through tactile and kinetic experiences.

What approach does All About Reading/All About Spelling follow?

All About Reading (AAR)/All About Spelling (AAS) follows the Orton-Gillingham Approach for teaching reading.

Ok, big words! But, what does this mean?

Well, if your child has dyslexia or suspect you might have a child with dyslexia, then it is likely that you may have heard of the Orton-Gillingham approach before.

The main idea behind the Orton-Gillingham approach is to take the three pathways to the brain for a much more holistic/ robust learning experience.

What are the 3 pathways to the brain for teaching reading?

• Pathway #1: Multi-Sensory: Encourages both sides of the brain to work together, creating stronger connections.
  
• Pathway #2: Auditory: The Orton- Gillingham approach is, therefore, phonics-based, and goes all the way down to the phoneme level (remember: this is the smallest unit of sound in words!)
  
  All About Reading focuses, again, on phonemic awareness. As we’ve learned before, phonemic awareness is the ability to recognize and manipulate the smallest units of sound in words. This is a critical skill for reading success.
  
• Pathway #3 Uses flashcards in a way that engages children, but without relying on rote memorization or guessing.

Who is All About Reading for?

This program is not just for children with dyslexia or other learning difficulties. Any child can benefit from its structured, incremental approach and its multi-sensory activities.

The story behind All About Reading/All About Spelling

Marie Rippel, a mother who couldn’t find suitable materials for her dyslexic child, created All About Reading/All About Spelling out of necessity and understanding.

How much preparation is required for the All About Reading program?

The program is “lightly scripted.” This means that it leaves certain room for flexibility, while providing a script for you to follow at the same time.

Therefore, lessons do not require a great deal of preparation. You can rest assured you are not leaving anything important out, but -at the same time- you can adjust the lesson to your kid’s needs.

How long does it take to work through the lessons on the All About Reading Program?

The recommendation from All About Reading/All About Spelling is to work on your lesson for twenty minutes a day, regardless of whether you have finished the actual lesson or not.

Why? Lessons longer than twenty minutes tend to overwhelm most students. So, if the lesson took three days to complete, that’s okay—it took three days!

On top of that, reserve an additional 20 minutes of reading from decodable books included in the program.

The “no-gaps” system in All About Reading

The All About Reading/All About Spelling curriculum follows what they call a “no-gaps” approach. This means that they don’t leave concepts unexplained or in the air. In other words, this curriculum doesn’t assume that children will just figure things out all by themselves!

The no-gaps approach in All About Reading ensures that all concepts are thoroughly taught and reviewed, reducing the likelihood of children developing coping strategies that bypass true understanding.

Moreover, this program is also very sequential and logical in the order that it introduces concepts.

Another aspect that I appreciate is the amount of opportunities your child will have to review previous concepts. These opportunities for review are integrated within the lessons through play and multi-sensory activities.

They take review so seriously that they even have integrated a customized review system.

Are Reading and Spelling tackled separately or at the same time?

Another key aspect of this program is that it addresses reading and spelling separately, allowing your child to progress more quickly in reading.

Another reason for this is that they go deep into spelling rules! Remember their “no-gaps” approach…

Reading and spelling are taught separately, allowing for faster progress in reading while ensuring a deep understanding of spelling rules.

How much does AAR/AAS cost?

I’m not going to lie. This program can be expensive for some families.

At the time of writing this article, each reading level is priced at $159.95, except for the pre-reading level at $119. A spelling level costs between $34.95 and $44.95. There are also additional materials like the reading review box ($15.95) and letter tiles ($25.95). *Prices may vary. To check final prices, available promos, etc., click below!

All About Reading Money-Back Guarantee

On the other hand, they offer an outstanding money-back Guarantee – You can try the program for a full year, and if it doesn’t meet your expectations, you can return it for a full refund, minus shipping costs.

When you purchase AAR, you also get access to their app.

How do I find out the right All About Reading level for my child?

You can do a placement test from their site.

You can do it here! 

On top of that you can access free samples of the program (including 2 lessons), so you know exactly what to expect before buying ! See links below!

Do you want to see how all these concepts translate into practice, take a look inside a lesson, and more?
Check out our full review of All About Reading – Level 1 here!

Reading Program #3: Logic of English

Logic of English is another Orton-Gillingham reading curriculum, making it an excellent choice for dyslexic or struggling readers.

Since we went through the Orton Gillingham approach before, I am not going to extend on this.

Instead, I am going to explain the key differences from All About Reading.

Differences between Logic of English and All About Reading

• Deeper Dive into English Rules: This program really takes the “no-gaps” approach to the next level! If your child needs to know the “why” of everything, consider this program! As its own name indicates, it goes deep into the “logic of English,” and the reasons behind the English spelling system and reading rules.
• Simultaneous Sound Introduction: Unlike traditional methods, this program introduces all the sounds a letter can make from the start. For instance, instead of teaching that letter “a” makes the short /a/ sound as in “apple,” it also covers the long “a” and the schwa sounds. I know… I can hear you thinking: “Isn’t this too overwhelming?” Well, that’s not how I personally approach reading instruction, but I appreciate it can work, especially for logical thinkers and children that like to have clear rules. This way, they won’t get all confused when you, later on, have to reveal that the letter “a” has alternative sounds.
• More Games and Activities: If you thought that teaching English rules had to be boring, that’s not the case. You do teach the rules, but using lots of games and fun activities.
• Integrated Reading, Writing, and Spelling: Logic of English addresses all three areas simultaneously, potentially saving you money by not requiring separate purchases.
  

Manuscript vs. Cursive in Logic of English – What You Should Know

If you chose this program, you’ll need to decide between cursive or manuscript for writing. This really stood out to me!

If you’re unsure of the difference, cursive looks like this (see picture below).

Not only cursive handwriting looks beautiful and takes out of the picture certain problems beginner readers struggle with, such as “b” and “d” reversal, as the letters “b” and “d” in cursive are not confusing anymore, learning through cursive typography can be extremely beneficial for the cognitive development of children.

While there is some controversy around this topic, some experts argue that cursive writing offers similar benefits to learning to play an instrument. If you want to find out more about this, you can check this article. I will also include some links on the download my notes document, in case you are interested in digging into this more.

For a totally beginner reader, the Foundations module has four levels (A, B, C, D) and covers contents appropriate for Kindergarten to First Grade.

Their Essentials module has three levels (A, B, C), and is divided in five parts. All of the materials on their Essentials module are included on their Essential package.

You can take a quick test on their site to see which one they recommend.

How much does Logic of English cost?

Although Logic of English isn’t cheap, it’s a high-quality program.

It may appear a bit more expensive than All About Reading, but since it includes spelling and writing instruction within the same program, the overall cost is quite comparable.

Plus, they offer a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Reading Program #4: Hooked on Phonics

What is Hooked on Phonics?

Hooked on Phonics is a comprehensive English curriculum that follows a systematic, sequential approach to teaching reading.

It starts with building Phonemic Awareness and letter recognition before introducing phonics concepts.

Aligned with Common Core standards, it ensures that students meet key academic benchmarks in mathematics and English. This curriculum is particularly useful if you are a homeschooling family in the U.S., as it adheres to these national standards.

What is the structure of the Hooked on Phonics Lessons?

This phonics program has a simple structure that makes it different from the other programs we’ve seen before. It’s easy for parents because it doesn’t require much prep or a lot of knowledge about phonics. Plus, you don’t need tons of materials, so it’s super convenient!

Each lesson follows the same routine: your child starts by watching a short video (you can use a DVD or access it online), which covers the learning part. After that, you go through the workbook, which reviews what they saw in the video. Then, it’s time to read, and if they do well, they get a sticker as a reward. The structure stays the same every day, making it easy for both you and your child to follow.

Some lessons also include fun games, and the program comes with readers that are just right for your child’s level. Just a heads up—if you want to access the videos online, avoid buying second-hand kits, as the registration might already be used.

Simple and Structured Routine for Learning to Read…

It looks simple and sort of repetitive, but I know many kids that do very well with this program!

If your kid thrives on structure and you are open to video-lessons, you should consider Hooked on Phonics.

It may be costly for some families, but if you’re confident this system will help your child succeed, the Complete Learn to Read kit, which includes all 8 levels, offers significant savings.

Hooked on Phonics app

Additionally, Hooked on Phonics offers an app, which is separate from the video lessons I mentioned earlier.

If you’re interested, they offer a bundle that includes all the levels, plus one year of access to the app for a little extra.

I recommend visiting their official site to explore the final prices and available options—there are quite a few!

If you want to learn more about this curriculum, check out our full review of Hooked on Phonics here!

Reading Program #5: Reading.com

• Who is it for: Beginning readers. Takes children from basic letter recognition skills to approx. 2nd grade reading level.
• System: Based on solid synthetic phonics principles and the Direct Instruction method to teaching reading.
• Number of levels: 1 (all in one app!)
• Great if you are looking for… A digital curriculum with super convenient implementation.
• Price: 7-day free trial. After that, only $6.25 a month (yearly subscription) or $12.49/month (monthly subscription).
• How to Get: Access to free trial here!

If you’re open to using a digital-only curriculum, like an app, Reading.com is worth considering!

This app is designed to take children from basic letter recognition to fluent reading, covering up to approximately a 2nd-grade level.

It offers 99 fully scripted lessons based on the Direct Instruction (DI) model, which provides clear, step-by-step guidance with precise instructions. This makes it easy for parents or teachers to lead lessons without needing specialized training. It also means that there’s no preparation required, and that you are done with the lesson in ten to twenty minutes.

The app also includes a library of scaffolded and decodable digital books, ensuring that children read at a level suited to their phonics skills.

It also includes fun and engaging printable worksheets and educational games to reinforce learning.

Can children really learn to read independently using an app?

Even though Reading.com is a literacy curriculum in app form, it’s not designed for independent learning. In fact, it’s meant to be used alongside a parent or educator. As mentioned earlier, with this app you’ll guide your child through the lessons, following a simple, easy-to-use script.

What makes this app special is its co-learning experience, where you and your child work together. This not only improves learning but also strengthens your bond.

If your child completes all 99 lessons and you incorporate the app’s games and printouts, they’ll learn to read. However, as always- I recommend supplementing with extra reading practice. Start by reading aloud to your child for 10 minutes a day.

While the app includes letter tracing with a finger, it doesn’t teach writing. You’ll need to reinforce writing skills separately.

Sliders in Reading.com – my favorite feature!

The tactile sliders is my favorite feature in the app, no question about it.

Why? They truly helped my youngest kid “get” blending —one of the trickiest parts of early reading. They are super intuitive, engaging both the auditory and tactile senses.

Your child moves his/her finger along the letters as he/she sound them out. He/she will make this exercise slow and, then, fast.

If your child has difficulties “getting” blending (as my little one did); that is, he or she knows letter sounds, but when it comes to putting them all together, it’s a real struggle, you may want to try out the digital sliders in Reading.com

For us, they were super helpful!

If you want to learn even more about this curriculum, check out our full review of Reading.com here!

Reading Program #6: Phonics Pathways

Phonics Pathways is a comprehensive reading curriculum that also uses the synthetic phonics approach to teaching reading.

However, there’s something that really makes it stand out from the rest…

That is how the concept of successive blending has been fully integrated in this reading program. Successive blending is this curriculum’s flagship really.

Successive blending is a type of blending strategy that, in fairness, all children may not need, because it could mean going more slowly than some children actually need. However, for those that struggle with blending, it can be a real life-saver!

That is what really makes this program an option to seriously consider for struggling readers. Especially for those that find blending  particularly difficult, even simple words.

With this reading strategy, you read a maximum of 2 letters at the time, even if you are reading longer words. With this strategy, you are trained to read words very gradually, breaking down the process into simple steps.

For instance, in order to read the word “mat”, you read it like this:

Step 1: m-a
Step 2: ma
Step 3: ma-t 
Step 4: mat

If you still don’t understand what successive blending goes, I’d recommend you watch this YouTube video on our website.

 

The program is extremely systematic in its approach.

Children build upon what they already know slowly and incrementally.

I really like the amount of practice it includes. Besides, some of the activities in this manual are really good. For instance, dictation-based activities, real/nonsense word-practice and  pyramid exercises, etc.

The curriculum is very lengthy and can be used from K to 4^th grade.

There’s an appendix for spelling for when you’re done with your focus on learn to read, basically.

So, we could consider Phonics Pathway a Reading + Spelling curriculum.

I also wanted to include less pricey alternatives here….

BUDGET ALTERNATIVES…

Reading Program #7: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

• Who is it for: Struggling readers, students that find blending particularly difficult, or students with learning disabilities, such us dyslexia. Also, a very good fit for older students and/or for those that thrive on very structured lessons.
• System: Systematic synthetic phonics in combination with the successive blending approach. The latest is this curriculum’s flagship.
• Number of levels: All in one book. Everything is included in this one manual. Suitable for students from K – 4^th graders.
• Great if you are after… Simple, effective and inexpensive option. The best option we know of if you want to try successive blending.
• Price: $20 (approximately – check final price on Amazon)
• 30-day money back guarantee when you buy from Amazon.
• How to Buy: Get it on Amazon here!

See it on Amazon!

“Teach Your Child to Read In 100 Easy Lessons has been endorsed by the National Right to Read Foundation as an exemplary instructional program for teaching children to read…The program is academically sound–the results speak for themselves. The continued problem of illiteracy is an enormous one, but [this book has] made a very significant contribution to solving one of American’s greatest needs.”

Robert W. Sweet, Co-founder and Former President, National Right to Read Foundation

What is Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons?

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons is a comprehensive manual (all in a single level) designed primarily for parents that want to teach their children to read in a one-to-one setting at home.

This program offers a very structured approach to teaching reading through scripted lessons. I consider this program to be heavily-scripted, as opposed to lightly scripted.

There’s no room for flexibility with Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. Every single detail (the way to give instructions, the way you model, the way you correct your child) has been defined for you and needs to be done in a very particular way!

The program is designed to take the child to a solid second-grade reading level upon completion.

What system does Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lesson use?

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons uses the DISTAR method (Direct Instruction).

This system was developed back in the 1960s by one of this manual’s co-author, Sigfried Engelman .

Apart from one-on-one scripted lessons, the manual introduces a unique alphabet with symbols and graphic cues. For instance, long vowel sounds are marked with a line on top, the “ng” digraph with an ark, etc. (See picture below).

This method has demonstrated effectiveness through large-scale studies… And has really passed the test of time!

However, it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea!

How to get familiar with the system used in Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons?

The manual includes a section guiding parents to learn about the sounds themselves before starting the lessons. It emphasizes the importance of precise pronunciation for the DISTAR system to work effectively.

The sessions are recommended to be conducted in 12 to 20 minutes per day, with an emphasis on creating a routine for consistency.

While the manual primarily focuses on reading, it includes writing tasks for their reading-related value.

Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons: Conclusion

Overall, Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons presents itself as a user-friendly option for parents seeking a structured, affordable, and research-backed program to teach their children to read, even though it may involve unique symbols and cues that could potentially limit the child’s transition to conventional books.

Reading Program #8: Alpha Phonics

Who is it for: Parents seeking a straightforward, phonics-based reading program with flexibility.

System: Phonics with a focus on letter names and sequential building of skills.

Number of levels: All in one book.

Great if you are after…A no-frills, cost-effective phonics program that allows for teaching flexibility and focuses on building sequential reading skills.

Price: $20 (approximately – check final price on Amazon)

30-day money back guarantee when you buy from Amazon.

How to Buy: Amazon or other retailers.

Alpha Phonics: A No-Frills Approach to Teaching Reading

This program takes a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to phonics-based reading instruction.

I consider Alpha Phonics a “phonics primer.”

Phonics primers represent one of the oldest methods for teaching reading, based on a lot of drilling and repetition, stressing sound awareness and the use of a sensible sequence (order of introduction) of letters, sounds, and other phonics concepts.

It was developed by Samuel L. Blumenfeld, a renowned educator and advocate for homeschooling. He developed this system to provide parents with a sensible and easy-to-use system for teaching reading.

However, I do know some reading specialists that also use Alpha Phonics (or a similar alternative), and are huge advocates of this system, based on simplicity, repetition and drilling.

A quick glance at the approach

• Start by teaching the alphabet, focusing on letter names only.
• Lessons are short (5-15 lines of text) but cover a lot of ground quickly.
• The program is sequential and logical, building on previous knowledge.
• It avoids pictures to prevent reliance on visual cues.

Pros – Alpha Phonics

• Introduces sight words in context with similar spelling patterns, aiding memorization.
• Effective at teaching reading without guessing.
• Cost-effective and minimalistic.
• Allows for flexibility in lesson implementation.

Cons – Alpha Phonics

• Moves quickly, may require reviewing lessons.
• Lacks visual aids, requiring additional memorization strategies.
• Not a writing program, though it provides some guidance.

Alpha Phonics: Conclusion

Alpha Phonics is a good option for parents wanting a research-backed, cost-effective phonics program with room for flexibility. While it lacks visual aids and writing instruction, its logical approach and focus on reading fundamentals can lead to strong skills. Consider your teaching style and child’s needs before deciding if Alpha Phonics is the best fit.

Also bear in mind that you may need to complement with additional materials, like decodable readers. In that regard, Alpha Phonics has its own you can also get on Amazon, for extra convenience.