The most successful way to teach Your Child to Read when homeschooling
Teaching your child to read is one of the most important responsibilities you take on as a homeschool parent. We do it all — feeding our children, teaching them to tie their shoes, potty training, etc., and then on top of that, we teach them to read, write, and do arithmetic.
It’s a lot.
But it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You simply take it one day at a time.
There is something incredibly special about homeschooling and being the one who gets to teach your child to read. Watching their minds form connections and understanding new ideas is amazing. I still remember when my son came running into the room after reading A Child’s History of the World and said, “Mom, I just realized that other countries have heroes too. It’s not just America.” He was about 11 or 12 years old at the time.
Moments like that begin with reading. Being a homeschool mom means you get to be there for all those special moments.
Why It’s So Important to Teach Your Child to Read Well
If you want your homeschool to run smoothly, you must teach your child to read the best way.
Once a child can read confidently, they can learn almost anything. They gain independence and they begin to complete much of their schoolwork on their own. Reading unlocks every other subject.
Because of this, many homeschool parents feel pressure when they begin to teach their child to read. We want to make sure we do it right. It can feel daunting.
The good news is that most children — when taught correctly — learn to read fairly quickly. I say most because if there is a learning challenge present, such as dyslexia, it will not always come easily. But for the average learner, reading can be mastered without frustration if you use the right method.
The Most Successful Way to Teach Your Child to Read: Use Phonics
In my experience homeschooling four children, the most successful way to teach your child to read is to use a strong phonics-based approach.
There are two key components:
- Consistent repetition
- Systematic phonics instruction
Teaching reading primarily by sight can be a mistake. While some children can memorize words and make connections naturally, many children cannot. If a child struggles even slightly, sight reading can hurt them in the long run.
Now, I realize there are certain words in the English language that must be memorized by sight. However, sight reading should not be the primary method you use to teach your child to read.
Phonics gives your child tools. It teaches them how to decode words — and decoding works in every word they encounter. I also want to add in here that reading aloud to your children will also aid in their own reading. When they are trying to sound out new or bigger words, if it is one that they have heard before, it will be easier for them to sound it out and to make sense of it. So, read lots of good books to your children.
A Simple Example of How to Teach Your Child to Read Using Phonics
Let me give you a simple illustration.
If you teach a child the word cat by sight, and they cannot connect it to words spelled similarly, then the only word they know is cat.
But if you teach:
- C says /c/
- A says /a/
- T says /t/
Then you teach that A and T together “at”.
Now you can add other letters in front of at:
- Bat
- Sat
- Hat
- Fat
When you teach your child to read this way, they are no longer memorizing individual words. They are learning a system. The sounds are always present in every word everywhere, so they are constantly reviewing and reinforcing what they’ve learned. It is so much fun to watch your children start sounding out words everywhere such as on street signs, and in books or a magazine at the doctor’s office.
What Worked for Me When I Taught My Children to Read
I have four children:
- Two without learning challenges
- One with moderate dyslexia
- One who appeared to have mild dyslexia
Teaching all of them with a phonics-based curriculum was the best decision I made when I set out to teach them to read.
I did try some very inexpensive books that taught sight reading when my oldest was four. I quickly realized that unless I constantly reviewed specific words, he forgot them. However, when I focused on letter sounds and blends, he could sound out anything. The tools were always there.
Phonics did not hurt my average learners. It did not slow them down. It strengthened all of them.
Phonics-Based Programs to Help You Teach Your Child to Read
If you are wondering what curriculum to use to teach your child to read, here are several phonics-based programs I recommend.
If you have followed me for any length of time, you know I love Abeka, especially in the elementary years.
Their reading, writing, and phonics curriculum is thorough and systematic. Children learn letter sounds, blends, and rules while practicing handwriting. The flashcards, blend ladders, and built-in review make it an excellent choice.
A simple and effective phonics workbook series that provides clear, structured practice.
Gentle early readers that reinforce phonics skills and build confidence.
Spell to Write and Read by Wanda Sanseri A more in-depth program that teaches spelling rules alongside reading, building a very strong foundation.
Teach Your Child With Dyslexia to Read
If your child has moderate to severe dyslexia, I only recommend one program based on our personal experience
Barton Reading and Spelling System by Susan Barton
There are many programs that claim to help dyslexic children, and some of them do work depending on a child’s ability level, but this is the only one that truly helped my daughter learn to read.
If you have read my earlier blog posts here or listened to my podcast episodes on dyslexia, here you know how much the Barton Reading and Spelling Program meant to our family. It is structured, systematic, and specifically designed for children with dyslexia. It finally gave my daughter the tools she needed to read.
A Phonics Approach Will Not Hurt Your Child
Even if your child does not have a learning disability, choosing a phonics-based program to teach your child to read will not hurt them. It will not slow them down. It will only strengthen their foundation.
And if you are unsure whether there may be a hidden learning challenge, phonics is the safest and wisest place to start.
Final Encouragement as You Teach Your Child to Read
Teaching your child to read is a big responsibility, but it does not have to feel overwhelming.
Take it one day at a time.
Use repetition.
Choose strong phonics instruction.
Trust the process.
There is nothing like watching a child begin to decode words — sounding out road signs, cereal boxes, and library books. Those little breakthroughs turn into confident readers.
And confident readers become independent learners.
If you have questions about homeschooling, curriculum, or how to teach your child to read, I would love to hear from you. You can always reach out through my website or connect with me on Facebook a @ What About Homeschooling.
You are doing important work — one brave step at a time. 💛
I’m cheering you on!
Please email me with any questions or message me on facebook!
Mary@whatabouthomeschooling.com
~”…and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.” Prov. 16:21
Wishing you all the best!
~Mary