Early Reading Guide

How to Build Pre-Reading Skills at Home - 3 Simple, No-Prep Ideas for Parents
Most parents assume that learning to read begins when we start teaching letters. And while being aware that letters exist, Read more
Why are Vowels Different from Consonants? Why Are Vowels Usually Trickier for Children Learning to Read?
I bet you already know that in English some letters are considered vowels, and others that are consonants. But… why? Read more
Should I Teach Letter Names or Letter Sounds First? The Big Debate in Early Reading
If you've ever taught a child to read (or you’re in the middle of doing so) you've probably wondered:Should I Read more
Best Books for 2 to 5 years old: Alphabet, Rhyming, Alliteration, and Picture Books that Help Toddlers Develop Pre-reading Skills
Looking for the best books for two to five years old to help them develop pre-reading skills? Reading aloud is Read more
Introducing the book "The ABC Sound Book: Playful Phonics Stories for Every Letter"
*Affiliate Disclosure: Some links lead to Amazon marketplace. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no additional Read more
The Forgotten Key to Better Reading: Does Handwriting Still Matter? Is Handwriting Still Relevant?
Today, we're going to talk about one very common mistake I see all the time when it comes to teaching Read more
5 Fun Easy Reading Games to Set Your Toddler Up for Reading Success! - Phonemic Awareness Games for Young Kids
Do you want to set your toddler or young child up for success in reading? Today, we’re sharing five fun Read more
How to Fix b/d Reversal: Complete Guide for Parents and Teachers for B and D confusion!
Does your child mix up "b" and "d" when reading or writing? You're not alone. This common phenomenon, known as Read more
What Are GLUED SOUNDS and Why Are They Confusing your Beginner Reader? A.K.A. Welded Sounds
Ok, so you're teaching your beginner reader to read, and you've truly done your research...You're doing all the right things Read more
Why do children enjoy reading less than ever before?
Children and young people's reading enjoyment is in a crisis, at least in the English-speaking world. Reports show that most Read more
Categories
early reading games letter sounds pre-reading skills

How to Build Pre-Reading Skills at Home – 3 Simple, No-Prep Ideas for Parents

Most parents assume that learning to read begins when we start teaching letters. And while being aware that letters exist, that they represent sounds, and having some familiarity with them is definitely very helpful once formal reading instruction begins… reading preparation actually starts much earlier. Long before children read words, they develop pre-reading skills that […]

Categories
early reading bilingual education english learners phonics

Why are Vowels Different from Consonants? Why Are Vowels Usually Trickier for Children Learning to Read?

I bet you already know that in English some letters are considered vowels, and others that are consonants. But… why? Do you know what the actual difference between a vowel and a consonant is? And even more importantly: Why are vowel sounds usually harder for children learning to read… and even for adults learning English […]

Categories
early reading learn the letters letter sounds synthetic phonics

Should I Teach Letter Names or Letter Sounds First? The Big Debate in Early Reading

If you’ve ever taught a child to read (or you’re in the middle of doing so) you’ve probably wondered: Should I teach letter names or letter sounds first? It’s a common question, and one that has sparked a lot of debate. Let’s look at what research has to say about this, what makes sense developmentally, […]

Categories
phonics early reading reviews

Best Books for 2 to 5 years old: Alphabet, Rhyming, Alliteration, and Picture Books that Help Toddlers Develop Pre-reading Skills

Looking for the best books for two to five years old to help them develop pre-reading skills? Reading aloud is a super powerful tool for early literacy. Sharing stories together helps children learn new vocabulary, familiarize with the sounds in words and language patterns, and develop a love for books. To make it easier for […]

Categories
early reading phonemic awareness phonics reading enjoyment synthetic phonics

Introducing the book “The ABC Sound Book: Playful Phonics Stories for Every Letter”

*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. I’m thrilled to share some exciting news: my new book, “The ABC Sound Book: Playful Phonics Stories for Every […]

Categories
writing early reading reading crisis reading instruction methodologies

The Forgotten Key to Better Reading: Does Handwriting Still Matter? Is Handwriting Still Relevant?

Today, we’re going to talk about one very common mistake I see all the time when it comes to teaching reading. And no, it’s not phonics vs. whole language vs. the balanced approach to teaching reading—also a very important conversation, by the way, and I’ve covered this topic several times in previous articles, like this […]

Categories
early reading games phonemic awareness phonics

5 Fun Easy Reading Games to Set Your Toddler Up for Reading Success! – Phonemic Awareness Games for Young Kids

Do you want to set your toddler or young child up for success in reading? Today, we’re sharing five fun and simple games that help develop a crucial foundational skill—one that comes before your child officially learns to read. The best part? Your child won’t even realize they’re building an essential skill! These games feel […]

Categories
early reading handwriting reading instruction methodologies

How to Fix b/d Reversal: Complete Guide for Parents and Teachers for B and D confusion!

Does your child mix up “b” and “d” when reading or writing? You’re not alone. This common phenomenon, known as b and d reversal, is extremely common among many young learners when learning to read and write. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll explore why it happens and share five proven strategies to help your child […]

Categories
phonics early reading synthetic phonics

What Are GLUED SOUNDS and Why Are They Confusing your Beginner Reader? A.K.A. Welded Sounds

Ok, so you’re teaching your beginner reader to read, and you’ve truly done your research… You’re doing all the right things – You’re introducing letter sounds correctly. You’re using decodable books… But then, a seemingly simple word trips them up: “am”. They struggle to recognize “am”, as in “I am Sam”. You think it should […]

Categories
early reading literacy reports reading crisis reading enjoyment

Why do children enjoy reading less than ever before?

Children and young people’s reading enjoyment is in a crisis, at least in the English-speaking world. Reports show that most children do not like reading and even perceive it as boring. This trend seems to be here to stay (and probably get worse) unless we do something about it. While we can speculate about the […]

FREE Learn-to-Read Materials!

Terms and Conditions - Privacy Policy