At-Home Practices

Did you struggle to learn how to read as a child—and now feel unsure how to help your own children? You’re not alone. Millions of adults were never taught phonics, and many discover later in life that their reading challenges were rooted in missing foundational skills, not ability. In this post, I explain why so many capable adults struggled with reading, how research-backed phonics instruction changes outcomes, and what parents can do now to confidently support their childr

Small, realistic reading habits make a big difference. These goals help families build confidence, connection, and a love of reading.

Does your child rush through reading and skip words? This post breaks down simple, research-based strategies to help children slow down, read accurately, and build stronger comprehension—without damaging confidence. Learn how to use a “no guessing” agreement, easy fix-up steps, eye-tracking supports, and confidence-building language to help your child become a more careful, self-monitoring reader.

Build Reading Confidence with Blending Lines Struggling readers often need short, focused practice to master new phonics skills—and that’s where blending lines come in! These short lines of words or phrases help children practice blending sounds, whether it’s CVC words, CVCE patterns, or digraphs. By practicing in small, manageable chunks, children gain fluency, reinforce phonics rules, and build confidence in reading complete sentences.

✨ Elkonin Boxes Made Simple Elkonin boxes are a powerful early literacy tool that help children break words into individual sounds. Each sound gets its own box, giving kids a clear visual for segmenting and blending. Just draw a few boxes, say a word slowly, and let your child push a token into each box as they say the sounds. It’s an easy, hands-on way to build phonemic awareness—right at home!

✨ Blending Made Fun! Blending doesn’t have to be boring—these playful, hands-on activities help your child connect sounds smoothly and confidently. From hopscotch to Pop-Its, magnets to slinkies, each game turns reading practice into meaningful play. Try a few at home and watch your child’s blending skills grow with joy!

What Reading Skills Look Like at Every Age From recognizing letters to confidently reading chapter books, children develop reading skills in predictable stages. This guide breaks down what literacy growth typically looks like from ages 3–10—so you’ll know what to expect, how to support your reader, and when to seek extra help. Whether your child is just beginning to explore books or moving into fluent reading, these milestones will help you understand their journey and how t

In a recent meeting with one of my tutoring families, I was reminded just how grateful I am for the incredible parents, guardians, and students I work with. Their commitment inspires everything I do. Today, I’m sharing a few of my favorite spelling games—fun and perfect for building strong spelling skills at home through play. Whether you’re looking for movement-based games, fast-paced word building, or creative tile challenges, these student-loved options make practice enjoy

Help your child build stronger reading and spelling skills with these short, simple videos that make tricky phonics rules easy to understand. From when to use C or K to mastering endings like -ck, -dge, and even the FLOSS rule, these clips offer clear guidance that pairs beautifully with intentional teaching moments. Pause, practice, and watch your child’s confidence grow!

Inside Today’s Video: Learn step-by-step how to give a DIBELS-style reading passage assessment. See a demonstration with a child reading aloud, learn what to listen for, and access free UFLI reading assessments. Perfect for parents and educators who want accurate, meaningful reading data without overwhelming students.

Discover how word recognition assessments, like the San Diego Quick Assessment, give valuable insight into your students’ reading skills. Learn how to use the data to guide instruction, build confidence, and turn hesitant decoders into confident, joyful readers.

Learn how to take phonics assessment results and turn them into a clear, effective reading plan. This video shows you exactly how to identify next steps and support confident reading growth.

Diving Into Reading Instruction: Phonics Encoding Assessment In this first video of my Diving Into Reading Instruction series, I walk you step-by-step through how to administer a Phonics Encoding Assessment—a powerful tool for understanding what a child truly knows about phonics and spelling. You’ll see a short demonstration using The Measured Mom’s free Science of Reading phonics assessment, along with guidance on what to listen for as your child or student responds. While

📚 New Series Alert: Diving into Reading Instruction Through Reading Assessment: The Tips to Getting Started 📚 I’m so excited to kick off a brand-new series all about the essentials of getting started with reading instruction through assessment! 🌟 The videos can be found under video tutorials. In this series, we’ll explore how to:  🔹 Use effective assessment techniques to identify student needs  🔹 Lay the groundwork for strong instruction through engaging auditory and vis

I recently had the joy of being a guest on the B Inspired Podcast with Jane Stahl of Studio B, where we talked all about my love of reading. In this episode, we explore how reading shapes lives, sparks imagination, and opens doors—along with a few nostalgic stories from our own reading journeys. It was a warm, inspiring conversation I’m so grateful to share.

Are you looking for a fun and educational way to build your child’s reading comprehension skills? Context Clues Pirate Treasure turns learning into an exciting adventure! 🏴‍☠️⚓ In this interactive game, children read story cards, use context clues to answer questions, and race across the board in search of hidden gold. Each correct answer brings them one step closer to the treasure, making learning feel like play. Be the first pirate to reach the treasure—and answer the fina

Looking for a fun way to practice letters? This hands-on, movement-based game helps kids strengthen letter recognition while learning through play.

High-lo readers are perfect for kids reading below grade level. These engaging, age-appropriate books feature relatable characters and series formats that motivate students while building essential reading skills

Explore two research-based reading programs—UFLI Foundations for foundational skills and Phonics for Reading for older students. Both programs provide systematic, explicit instruction to help struggling readers build decoding, comprehension, and fluency skills with confidence. Learn how to get started, access sample lessons, and support your child’s reading growth.

Want your child to master letters while having fun? Skip the pencil at first! Use materials like yarn, playdough, craft sticks, or shaving cream to form letters.