The internet is full of free reading resources that can help your child become a skilled reader. Today I want to share a few of those with you that are informed by science of reading research and proven to be effective at teaching children to read.
This reading blog will be updated frequently with more free reading resources!
For growing in reading development knowledge
While you can just implement ready-to-go activities to help your child become a skilled reader, you and your child will benefit more if you take the time to learn even just a little bit about reading development. Here are some of my favorite, free resources for learning about reading development:
- Sold a Story Podcast – do yourself a favor and listen to the Sold a Story podcast. It is told as a story and is absolutely fascinating. It goes through how children have been taught to read for decades (likely including you) and how much children have struggled because of those teaching practices. The Sold a Story podcast makes an incredibly strong case for implementing a reading curriculum that is based on science of reading research.
- Science of reading and Scaborough’s Reading Rope Explanation – now that I’ve mentioned using a curriculum that is based on science of reading research, it’s best that I also provide a resource that explains what that is! Check out the linked reading blog for more information on science of reading research and my favorite reading development model – Scarborough’s Reading Rope.
- Reading assessments matter – Assessments are a huge part of effective reading instruction. Let this reading blog convince you to start your teaching to read journey with a reading assessment.
Free Reading Activities and Interventions
There are so many free reading activities and interventions on the Internet but the ones I list below are heavily based in science of reading research.
- Word Building Phonics Activity – This is my favorite phonics activity for teaching simple words. It is easy, requires very little materials or preparation, and it’s fun! Here is a link to a video example and here is a link to written instructions and ready-made word lists.
- Florida Center for Reading Research – this website is gold when it comes to free, highly effective reading activities. Using this link, you will find dozens of ready-made activities that are enjoyable for kids. I personally love the board game activities and letter dice activities most.
- Phonological Awareness Assessment – Read Where You Are’s Phonological Awareness Assessment is always free and a great resource for K-3 students who have not yet mastered foundational reading skills.
Free resources are added all the time to Read Where You Are’s site. Consider subscribing to our email list at the top of the screen for access!