Steps to Reading

Steps to Reading is an open-and-go phonics program that is user-friendly and fun! Written by developmental psychologist Dr. Irene Daria, this research-based reading program includes four books that should be used in sequential order. Book One teaches short vowels; Book Two teaches blends; Book Three teaches digraphs; Book Four teaches long vowels and “y” at the end of a word. Sight words are taught in order of use throughout all four books. It is assumed that students know their letter sounds before beginning the program. Instructions are scripted for the parent and presented directly in each book. The author refers to an excellent website that is wonderful for beginning readers as an additional resource in some of the lessons. She also recommends several book series, such as Bob Books Set 1, Primary Phonics Set 1 and 2A, The Alphabet Series Volume 1, and others to use as reading practice. She even includes when and where to bring in these readers! Throughout each book, there are engaging activity pages, including tracing letters and words, coloring, making sentences from cut-out words, selecting correct words or letters that go with a picture, vocabulary exercises, and more. Games like phonics bingo and phonics board games are also included. There is not a weekly schedule, which gives you freedom to go at your child’s pace. You can typically cover all four books in one year; however, if you need to take longer, that is perfectly acceptable. After finishing all four books, kids should be at a first-grade reading level. A small amount of handwriting practice is included, but you will want to have a separate handwriting book. We offer Steps to Reading books as a bundle or separately with the recommended readers. This is a research-backed way to teach your child to read in an open-and-go format! Pages are non-reproducible. ~ Gina