The Step-by-Step Path to Reading Success: What Every Parent Should Know
Learning to read is one of the most exciting milestones in a child’s life. For parents, though, it can also feel overwhelming. Where do you start? Which skills come first? How do you know if your child is on track?
At Sunny Shores Academy, we’ve helped several children master reading with confidence and joy. Here’s a look at the key building blocks of early reading, and how you can support your child along the way.
1. Reading Assessment
Before diving into lessons, it’s important to know where your child is right now. A reading assessment helps identify strengths and gaps so you’re not guessing what to teach next. For ages 5-7, this often includes letter recognition, sound awareness, and early decoding skills. Book a discovery meeting with us today to learn more about our reading assessments.
2. Name & Letter Recognition
One of the first “aha!” moments for a child is recognizing the letters in their own name. This personal connection makes learning exciting! From there, children should work toward recognizing all letters of the alphabet, both uppercase and lowercase.
3. Consonants & Vowel Sounds
Once letters are familiar, the next step is learning the sounds they make. Consonant sounds often come first, followed by the short vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u). These are the foundation of decoding words.
4. CVC Words & Blends
CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words like cat, dog, and sun are a child’s first step toward independent reading. After CVC mastery, blends (like st, bl, tr) help expand word knowledge quickly.
5. Tricky Letters: Hard & Soft C and G
English has its quirks, and learning that c can sound like cat or city, and g can sound like goat or giraffe, is a key milestone. Teaching these patterns early prevents confusion later.
6. Comprehension & Popcorn Words
Reading isn’t just about decoding, it’s about understanding. That’s why comprehension questions should be part of every lesson. High-frequency “popcorn” words (like the, and, said) also help kids read more fluently.
Support from Sunny Shores Academy
Our “Learn to Read” program is designed to take children step-by-step through this process, building both skill and confidence. Every lesson includes interactive activities, comprehension checks, and parent-friendly guidance so you can see progress at home.
Ready to Get Started?
Don’t leave your child’s reading journey to chance. Start with our free reading assessment for ages 5-7 and discover how we can help your child succeed.
