Teaching kids how to read can seem like an intimidating task. Where do you start? Where do you go from there?
Whether you tutor, teach in the classroom, homeschool, or work with your child after school, you can use the printables and resources you find here at This Reading Mama to be successful in teaching kids how to read!
*This article contains affiliate links.
Teaching Kids How to Read
Let’s start at the very beginning, shall we? Is your learner even ready to read? Check out our reading readiness printable checklist for getting ready to read.
Important Skills for Reading
Learning to read isn’t just about knowing letters. Sure, that’s a part of it. But learners need to be able to connect letters with letter sounds through phonemic awareness.
Simply put, can your learner identify or change the sounds (s)he hears in words? For example, does (s)he understand how to rhyme with hat? Or can she hear that the last sound in hat is /t/?
Check out our 7-day series on phonological and phonemic awareness. Included are lots of printable activities you can use with your learners.
Look for all our reading readiness printables, too.
Learning the Alphabet
Learners must also know letters and letter sounds to read. That’s why I developed Learning the Alphabet.
Learning the Alphabet helps learners connect letters to their sounds in fun and hands-on activities. All the ABC packs can be downloaded for free, but I also have a bundle that’s updated and expanded in my shop.
You can find more of our free alphabet printables.
Reading the Alphabet
Learning the Alphabet flows right into Reading the Alphabet.
I designed Reading the Alphabet for older preschoolers who aren’t quite ready for Kindergarten, but are ready to deepen their knowledge of sounds in words and begin reading at a slower pace.
Once again, you can download all the lessons for free. You can find the updated and expanded bundle pack in my shop.
Learn to Read {with Word Families}
Reading the Alphabet feeds right into Learn to Read.
Learn to Read was designed with Kindergartners in mind who are ready to explore more sight words and short vowel word families.
Free word family books with a few activities in each can be downloaded for each word family {24 in all}. Learn to Read is also bundled with LOTS of extra goodies at my blog’s shop.
What Comes After Learn to Read?
I often am asked if I have a curriculum after Learn to Read. I actually do, but it’s unfinished {and I don’t have plans to finish it at this time}. It’s a Bible-based curriculum called Phonics by the Book.
You can also try our free BOB Books printables. They go hand-in-hand with the BOB Books {or you can use many of the printables without the books}.
If you’re looking for a complete curriculum for teaching reading, I HIGHLY recommend All About Reading. It’s filled with hands-on activities, readers, and TONS of teaching tips! You can read my All About Reading Review.
Maybe you just want to know what skills learners need after they’ve mastered the simple sight words and CVC words. This list of K-2 Phonics Skills should help.
You can find MANY free printables for nearly any early phonics skill you can think of on my free printables page, so be sure to check them all out!
Enjoy teaching!
~Becky