Reading is a critical foundation in the development of our children.  There are so many benefits that come from learning to read. Of course, academically, children need to learn to read. It will help them in every subject in school and in every day life. But reading can give a child so much more than that. As a child grows in their ability to read, their self-confidence, cognitive development, language skills, increased concentration, and social-emotional skills are strengthened.

One of our favorite benefits from reading is the imagination that is sparked within our children. Reading gets those creative juices flowing and can be the catalyst for hours of adventures. Children have such a magical way of jumping into pretend play and the stories from good books can help them explode with ideas.

Another advantage is the knowledge that we can gain by simply reading. The world is full of amazing things, there is so much to learn, and books can open doors to wonders and understanding. As children grow and become more proficient readers, they will have the ability to be self-taught in many things. They will be able to do a lot more independent learning throughout their schooling and be able to deep dive into subjects that interest them.

Teaching your child to read may seem daunting. Where do you begin and how do you help them excel? Reading aloud to your children from a very young age and continuing to do so throughout their schooling can be such a great way to instill early reading skills and a lifelong love for reading. Give them a good foundation by following a curriculum, program, or outline that works for you both. Then, encourage them to read, read, read! The more they read, the better they get. In the early years, that may look like you sitting beside them, helping them with sounds and words. Eventually they will need you less and less and they will be able to read more and more. But always make sure they are spending time in a good book!

As you start, take cues from your children. Some are early readers; they are eager and ready to learn the foundations of reading at a young age. Others may need a slower approach. However, there is always some form of reading skills that can be taught. Time and consistency will be the thing that helps reading skills blossom. One day it will all click and you will be surprised by the leaps and bounds your child makes in their ability to read.

Spend the time needed to find a curriculum or program that you think will work for you and your child. There are many options out there and the best one is the one that works for you!  A lot of reading curriculums use a phonics method. This means that children are taught letter sounds (vowels and consonants), blends, and word families. They learn to sound out words by combining sounds and blending them into words. Sight words or words that don’t follow the rules of reading are taught as well. This is the method that we believe in and use. Research and evidence shows that this way of teaching reading will provide a child with the skills needed to read, and to read well. They will be able to decode and sound out unfamiliar words. There is no guessing involved with this method. Now, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t aspects of other methods that we don’t also love and use. But a good foundation in phonics is key to a life long ability to read.

Below are some popular ones among homeschooling families. But remember, that doesn’t mean they will be the best for your child. Explore these ones and look for others that are of interest. You may want to also check out our all-in-one resource page. These curriculums have language arts programs that combine many subjects like reading, writing, grammar, etc. As you continue to teach them in the way they need, before you know it your child will explode with new skills, ability, and desire to read.

Reading:

All About Reading

• Grades Pre K-4^th
• Orton-Gillingham Methodology
• Phonetic based
• Pre-reading program and reading program

BJU Press Reading Program

• Grades 1^st– 6^th
• Phonics, reading skills, vocab, and literature
• Christian worldview

Explode The Code

• Phonetic based
• 14 workbooks
• Can be used as primary teaching or supplemental
• Can start with young student or use to help older students in need of extra help

Lexia for Home

• Phonetic based
• Tech game with constant assessment
• Research based personalized learning
• Yearly subscription fee
• You can try it out before you buy
• Best used as a supplement to teaching

Logic of English Foundations

• Ideal for starting in Kindergarten and working through levels
• Correlation to Common Core Standards shown in teachers manual
• Orton-Gillingham Methodology
• Phonetics taught

The Good and the Beautiful Language Arts & Literature

• Grades Pre K-8^th
• Complete language arts curriculum
• Phonetic based
• Placement assessment to pick the right level

Simply Charlotte Mason

• Starts around age 6
• Word-building/phonics taught
• Charlotte Mason’s principle of no twaddle

Don’t forget to check out our book lists for fun and education books for kids:

• Toddlers
• Picture books for Elementary School
• Chapter Books
• Books for Moms

Language Arts Tech Tools

Reading Games from Toy Theater

• Free online games
• Great for supplementing
• Helping kids master literacy skills like letter recognition, spelling, and reading