For Parents

Help your child strengthen their literacy skills at any stage of development.

Your family plays a big role in helping your child learn to read and write. With the right phonics activities at home, you can support your child’s literacy development and academic success. The more you understand how and why phonics instruction works, the better you can facilitate effective and meaningful learning experiences with your family. 

To help your child practice phonics at home, read our insights for parents below! You can also browse our phonics program reviews for more.

Phonics Education for Families

Compare Reading Mastery and Saxon Phonics programs side-by-side. Review research evidence, instructional design, classroom implementation, and effectiveness data to inform your phonics curriculum decision.

Reading Mastery vs. Saxon Phonics: Which Delivers Better Results?

Imagine two classrooms down the hall from each other. Same grade level, similar student...

Discover how speech delays impact phonics learning and what parents can do to support children when articulation challenges affect their reading development.

Phonics and Speech Delays: When Articulation Affects Decoding

When your child mispronounces words during conversation, you might think it’s adorable—and it often...

Discover why ChatGPT and AI tools can't replace systematic phonics instruction for early readers.

ChatGPT for Phonics: Why AI Can’t Replace Systematic Instruction

A frustrated parent sits at the kitchen table with their struggling six-year-old, laptop open...

Real districts are cutting phonics instruction despite research showing it's essential. Learn why this trend hurts children and what parents can do to protect their kids' reading success.

Why Some Reading Programs Are Abandoning Phonics (And Why That’s Wrong)

Walk into some elementary school classrooms today and you’ll witness a troubling trend. Teachers...

Discover why "natural reading" is a myth debunked by science. Learn why systematic phonics instruction is essential for all children to become successful readers.

Debunking ‘Natural Reading’: Why Phonics Isn’t Optional

A well-meaning parent watches their 4-year-old “read” their favorite bedtime story word-for-word, flipping pages...

Explore the 2025 updates to phonics research since the National Reading Panel. See what science reveals about reading instruction.

The 2025 National Reading Panel Update: What’s Changed in Phonics Research?

Has our understanding of phonics instruction changed since the landmark National Reading Panel Report...

Discover proven free and low-cost phonics resources for parents. From library programs to DIY activities, learn how to support your child's reading without breaking the bank.

Phonics on a Budget: Free and Low-Cost Resources

You want to give your child the best start in reading, but phonics programs...

Discover 10 perfect back-to-school books for preschoolers that ease first-day jitters and build excitement for classroom adventures.

Back to School: Preschool Book Ideas

Starting preschool is a huge milestone for your little one! One day, they’re home...

Discover what kindergarten phonics skills your child should master. A parent's guide to letter sounds, blending, and reading milestones.

Kindergarten Phonics Skills: What’s Expected?

Your five-year-old just started kindergarten, and suddenly everyone is talking about phonics. You might...

Discover practical ways to build phonics skills through everyday activities like cooking and crafts with your child.

Building Phonics Skills Through Cooking, Crafts, and Daily Activities

Have you ever noticed how children can recite entire commercial jingles after hearing them...

Reading Mastery vs. Saxon Phonics: Which Delivers Better Results?

Reading Mastery vs. Saxon Phonics: Which Delivers Better Results?

Imagine two classrooms down the hall from each other. Same grade level, similar student demographics, but strikingly different reading outcomes by mid-year. The difference? The phonics program that each teacher…

Phonics and Speech Delays: When Articulation Affects Decoding

Phonics and Speech Delays: When Articulation Affects Decoding

When your child mispronounces words during conversation, you might think it’s adorable—and it often is! But what happens when those same articulation challenges show up during reading lessons? Many parents…

ChatGPT for Phonics: Why AI Can’t Replace Systematic Instruction

ChatGPT for Phonics: Why AI Can’t Replace Systematic Instruction

A frustrated parent sits at the kitchen table with their struggling six-year-old, laptop open to ChatGPT. “Can you help my child learn to read?” they type. Within seconds, the AI…

Why Some Reading Programs Are Abandoning Phonics (And Why That’s Wrong)

Why Some Reading Programs Are Abandoning Phonics (And Why That’s Wrong)

Walk into some elementary school classrooms today and you’ll witness a troubling trend. Teachers are putting away phonics workbooks. Reading programs are promoting “authentic literature experiences” over systematic letter-sound instruction. …

Debunking ‘Natural Reading’: Why Phonics Isn’t Optional

Debunking ‘Natural Reading’: Why Phonics Isn’t Optional

A well-meaning parent watches their 4-year-old “read” their favorite bedtime story word-for-word, flipping pages at just the right moments. The child has memorized every line perfectly, leading the parent to…

The 2025 National Reading Panel Update: What’s Changed in Phonics Research?

The 2025 National Reading Panel Update: What’s Changed in Phonics Research?

Has our understanding of phonics instruction changed since the landmark National Reading Panel Report of 2000? What does the latest research tell us about the most effective ways to teach…

Phonics on a Budget: Free and Low-Cost Resources

Phonics on a Budget: Free and Low-Cost Resources

You want to give your child the best start in reading, but phonics programs can cost hundreds of dollars. The good news? Some of the most effective phonics support doesn’t…

Back to School: Preschool Book Ideas

Back to School: Preschool Book Ideas

Starting preschool is a huge milestone for your little one! One day, they’re home with you, and the next, they’re walking into a classroom full of new friends and adventures.…

Kindergarten Phonics Skills: What’s Expected?

Kindergarten Phonics Skills: What’s Expected?

Your five-year-old just started kindergarten, and suddenly everyone is talking about phonics. You might be wondering what exactly your child should be learning this year. Don’t worry, kindergarten phonics is…

Building Phonics Skills Through Cooking, Crafts, and Daily Activities

Building Phonics Skills Through Cooking, Crafts, and Daily Activities

Have you ever noticed how children can recite entire commercial jingles after hearing them just a few times, yet struggle to remember letter sounds during formal reading lessons? That’s because…