Teach Your Child to Read

Here are some of the top phonics and reading programs, as well as essays and tips, to help you teach your child to read.

Is your child ready to learn how to read? Try this 20-question test by familyeducation.com. It's not definitive, but it will give you some insight into how your child looks at things and what he or she knows at this point.

Alpha Phonics
An award-winning phonics program and under $30. Also available on CD-ROM. Supplementary materials available. Recommended by Mary Pride and Cathy Duffy (reviews on web site)

At Last! A Reading Method for Every Child
This link will take you to the program's home site, but you might want to read the reviews on Amazon. A lot of folks love this program. It gets rave reviews from parents and teachers of struggling learners, as well.

Sing, Spell, Read & Write
This multisensory program is another homeschool favorite. Five levels include Pre-K, K, 1, 2, and WINNING (older students or remedial). It's not one of the cheaper programs, but many families have found it well worth the cost, and it can be used for multiple children.

Happy Phonics
A Cathy Duffy Top-Pick. A program for your wiggly little ones, lots of games and fun. Author suggests using it with Explode the Code.

BJU Press Reading Program
Another program that gets rave reviews from parents. Many comment on the substance and depth of this program. Readers also available.

Read reviews of more phonics and reading programs:

Parent Reviews         Cathy Duffy Reviews

Essay: Teaching Benjamin and Zachary to Read
Homeschool mother and tutor, Tammy Drennan, tells the story of teaching her own sons to read and reflects on the teaching of reading in general.

Books for Early Readers
Most of the links above include sources for early readers, but here are a few more you might want to take a look at.

The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
A great list of phonetic readers with a breakdown of where they fall in the typical course of learning to read. Lots of other resources, too.

BOB Books
These phonics-friendly books are simple and fun -- and great for beginning readers. Very popular in homeschooling circles.

Starfall.com
Short, phonetic books on-line. Colorful yet simple pictures, big letters. A fun addition to your reading program. Lots of other features on this reading web site.

McGuffey's Readers
This set of readers from the 1800s is very popular in homeschooling circles. The language is old-fashioned, the vocabulary impressive, the stories instructive. You may want to take a look at them before purchasing (call local bookstores or ask in homeschooling circles). Early to more advanced.

Check your local libraries, bookstores, etc. Dr. Suess books, the I Can Read series and many more make great readers. Take the time to look through books, and let your child pick some favorites, too.