Resources for Teaching at Home

Phonograms are the letters or letter combinations that combine to form words. Phonograms make learning to read and spell much easier!

• Read our blog post about How to Teach Phonograms.
• Listen to the sounds of the basic phonograms with the Phonogram Sounds App*

Practice phonograms with:

• Try Not to Moo!*
• Swatting Phonograms*
• Fun with Phonograms*
• Phonogram Jungle Bingo*

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in How to Teach Phonograms.

Rhyming is one of the best predictors of how easily a child will learn to read. These resources will help you teach rhyming to your child.

• Read our blog post about 5 Ways to Teach Rhyming.
• Download our e-book Teaching Your Child How to Rhyme to learn even more!

More Rhyming Resources:

• Rhyming Test*
• Get Out of the Wagon!*
• What’s In My Bag?*
• Dinner Time*
• Rhyming Picture Books (blog post)
• Nursery Rhymes for Little Ones (blog post)
• Rhyming with Candy Hearts
• Matching Mittens
• Ice Cream Cones

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in 5 Ways to Teach Rhyming.

Teaching the rules and patterns that spell the vast majority of English words helps take the guesswork out of reading and spelling. Check out these blog posts for three helpful rules!

• Spelling Rules for Making Words Plural (six “sweet” rules)
• The Kids’ Club Rule for Spelling (using C or K at the beginning of a word)
• The Floss Rule for Spelling (doubling consonants at the end of words)
• Check out our printable Spelling Rules Posters.*

*The resource marked with an asterisk is also included in the linked blog posts.

Blending is the technical term for “sounding out words.” Read about why learning to blend is so important.

• Read our blog post to learn more about Helping Kids Sound Out Words.

More Blending Resources:

• All About Reading Blending Procedure*
• Sample Blending Lesson*

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in Helping Kids Sound Out Words.

When we speak, we blend sounds together to make a word, but in segmenting, we take the individual sounds apart. Learn more about this important skill.

• Teach your child about Segmenting: A Critical Skill for Spelling with our blog post.

Segmenting Activity:

• Breaking Words Apart*

*The resource marked with an asterisk is included in Segmenting: A Critical Skill for Spelling.

Did you know that long vowel sounds can be spelled four different ways and that each way follows a specific spelling pattern? Our handy guide has all the information you need!

• Help your child spell long vowel sounds with A Handy Guide to Long Vowel Sounds.

Long Vowel Activities:

• Long Vowel Sounds Chart*
• Be a Hero*
• Kit or Kite*
• Wake Up the Sheep*
• Find Gold*

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in A Handy Guide to Long Vowel Sounds.

Compound words are formed when two smaller words combine to form a new word. Our guide is packed with fun resources for learning about compound words!

• Teach compound words with the engaging resources in The Essential Guide to Teaching Compound Words.
• Practice reading compound words in “Cobweb the Cat,” a decodable story from All About Reading Level 1.

Resources for Teaching Compound Words:

• 501 Compound Words*
• Bird Friends*
• Chop-Chop*
• Banana Splits Game*

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in The Essential Guide to Teaching Compound Words.

Homophones are two or more words that sound alike but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Teach homophones with these resources!

• Read our blog post and learn How to Teach Homophones.

More Homophone Resources:

• Big List of Homophones*
• Homophone Riddles*
• My List of Homophones*

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in How to Teach Homophones.

Alphabetizing is an essential literacy skill, and these resources will make it easy for you to teach!

• Learn and teach the four stages of alphabetizing in How to Teach Alphabetizing.

More Resources for Alphabetizing:

• ABC Caterpillar*
• Sort the Seeds*
• Who’s Coming to My Party?*
• Common Rules for Advanced Alphabetizing

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in How to Teach Alphabetizing.

A suffix is a word part that is placed at the end of a base word. The resources below make teaching suffixes easy!

• Find lots of tips and tools for teaching suffixes in How to Teach Suffixes.

More Resources for Teaching Suffixes:

• 30 Common Suffixes*
• Go Nutty*
• Sleeping Mice*
• Suffix Word Flippers*
• Teaching Latin Roots with Word Trees*

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in How to Teach Suffixes.

A prefix is a word part that is placed in front of a base word. Teach prefixes the easy way with our handy resources!

• Read our mini prefix teaching guide: How to Teach Prefixes.

More Resources for Teaching Prefixes:

• 90 Common Prefixes and Their Meanings*
• Prefix Word Flippers*
• Teaching Latin Roots with Word Trees*
• My List of Prefixes*

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in How to Teach Prefixes.

A contraction consists of two words that are combined to form one word. You can teach contractions with our fun hands-on resources.

• Give your child a solid understanding of contractions with How to Teach Contractions.

More Contractions Resources:

• All About Reading Sample Lesson*
• Fun with Contractions*
• All About Spelling Sample Lesson*
• Alphabetical List of Contractions*

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in How to Teach Contractions.

Fluency is the ability to read with accuracy, proper speed, and meaningful expression. Help your child’s fluency with the resources below.

• Read our blog post to learn How to Develop Reading Fluency.

More Fluency Resources:

• Round Up the Sheep*
• Fun with Emojis
• You’ve Got Rhythm
• Buddy Reading (blog post)

*Resources marked with an asterisk are included in How to Develop Reading Fluency.

Help your child stay up-to-date with his regular spelling words with these review activities!

• Popcorn Party
• Pirate Ship
• Drag Race

If you’re teaching a preschooler, these resources will educate and entertain…all at the same time!

• ABC Crafts – Uppercase Letters
• ABC Crafts – Lowercase Letters
• ABC Snacks – Recipes for Every Letter of the Alphabet
• Top 10 Activities for Letter Knowledge
• How to Teach the Alphabet to Preschoolers
• Reading Readiness: The Top 5 Skills
• Great Picture Books

Level 1 Extra Resources

• Level 1 Scope and Sequence
• Preparing to Teach Level 1
• Level 1 Appendices (some appendices will be needed to complete the lessons below)

Level 1 Animated Story Samples

• “Kip the Pup“: an animated story from Run, Bug, Run! (Level 1 decodable reader)
• “The Gum“: an animated story from Run, Bug, Run! (Level 1 decodable reader)
• “Lost in the Bog“: an animated story from The Runt Pig (Level 1 decodable reader)
• “The Lost List“: an animated story from Cobweb the Cat (Level 1 decodable reader)

Lesson 1 (M, S, P, A)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 2 (N, T, B, J)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 3 (Story: “Bam!”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Story

Lesson 18 (Consonant Team TH)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 19 (Stories: “Get Them!” and “The Red Pen”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Stories

Lesson 24 (Words with Final Blends)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 25 (Stories: “Tin Raft” and “Lost in the Bog”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Stories

Lesson 26 (Words with Initial Blends)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 27 (Stories: “Lunch” and “The Big Top”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Stories

Lesson 42 (Plural Words)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 43 (Stories: “Ten Wishes” and “Fast Fun”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Stories

Lesson 44 (Additional Sounds for A, I, and C)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 45 (Stories: “The Lost List” and “No Mud for Max”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Stories

Level 2 Extra Resources

• Level 2 Scope and Sequence
• Preparing to Teach Level 2
• Level 2 Appendices (some appendices will be needed to complete the lessons below)

Level 2 Animated Story Samples

• “Skunk Hotel“: an animated story from What Am I? (Level 2 decodable reader)
• “Champ“: an animated story from What Am I? (Level 2 decodable reader)
• “Pumpkin and the Kitten“: an animated story from Queen Bee (Level 2 decodable reader)

Lesson 1 (Open and Closed Syllables)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 2 (Blends at the Beginning and End)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 3 (Story: “Twist and Stomp”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Story

Lesson 25 (EE and Vowel Team Syllables)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 26 (Story: “Pine Tree Pet Shop”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Story

Lesson 52 (OY and OI)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 53 (Story: “Wild Rice Harvest”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Story

Lesson 54 (AW and AU)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 55 (Story: “Rawhide”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Story

Level 3 Extra Resources

• Level 3 Scope and Sequence
• Preparing to Teach Level 3
• Level 3 Appendices (some appendices will be needed to complete the lessons below)

Level 3 Animated Story Samples

• “After the Rain“: an animated story from Chasing Henry (Level 3 decodable reader)
• “The Pesky Shadow“: an animated story from Chasing Henry (Level 3 decodable reader)
• “Atticus Borrows Some Boards“: an animated story from Shipwreck! (Level 3 decodable reader)

Lesson 25 (OO as in Food)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 26 (Story: “Gabby Goose Saves the Day”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Story

Lesson 45 (KN)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 46 (Story: “Cedric the Brave Knight”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Story

Level 4 Extra Resources

• Level 4 Scope and Sequence
• Preparing to Teach Level 4
• Level 4 Appendices (some appendices will be needed to complete the lessons below)

Level 4 Animated Story Samples

• “Pirate Food“: an animated story from The Voyage (Level 4 decodable reader)
• “The Spy Guy and the Case of the Stolen Soup“: an animated story from Heirloom Antics (Level 4 decodable reader)

Lesson 18 (OU as in Soup and GU)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 19 (“The Spy Guy and the Case of the Stolen Soup”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Story

Lesson 56 (More Greek Words)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages

Lesson 57 (“Charlie’s Sick Day”)

• Teacher’s Manual
• Activity Pages
• Story

• Lesson 1 (The First 26 Phonograms)
• Lesson 16 (Letters C and K)
• Lesson 17 (Sound of /k/ at the Beginning)
• Lesson 18 (FF, LL, and SS)

• Lesson 7 (Introduce Silent E)
• Lesson 14 (I or O Followed by Two Consonants)
• Lesson 25 (Vowel Teams OW and OU)

• Lesson 2 (Vowel Teams AI and AY)
• Lesson 4 (Silent E Book)
• Lesson 9 (Vowel Teams OA and OW)
• Lesson 26 (The Change the Y to I Rule)

• Lesson 2 (Consonant Team TCH)
• Lesson 22 (/shŭn/ Spelled TION)
• Lesson 27 (The /ĭk/ Words)

• Lesson 3 (Clues for /shŭn/ Words, Part 1)
• Lesson 15 (More Words with /z/ Spelled S)
• Lesson 18 (Plurals of Words Ending in O)

• Lesson 4 (Words Ending in AIN)
• Lesson 11 (The Sound of /g/ Spelled GU)
• Lesson 13 (/cŭl/ Spelled CAL)
• Lesson 26 (Adding Suffix LY)

• Lesson 6 (/djoo/ Spelled DU)
• Lesson 12 (Words Ending in ANCE – Part 1)
• Lesson 13 (Words Ending in ANCE – Part 2)
• Lesson 17 (Latin Roots 1)
• Lesson 21 (Greek Word Parts 1)
• Lesson 26 (French Loan Words Ending in GUE and QUE)