If you are homeschooling and wondering, “Am I doing this right?” you are not alone.
Teaching reading can feel overwhelming, especially when you are not formally trained as a teacher. There are so many programs, opinions, and conflicting advice online that it can make you second-guess even the simplest lesson.
The truth is this: children do not need complicated. They need consistency.
A clear, repeatable daily phonics routine is far more powerful than jumping from activity to activity or switching programs every few months.
Here is a simple structure you can follow each day.
Step 1: Sound Review (2-5 minutes)
Start with quick review of previously taught graphemes and their phonemes.
Hold up a sound card and follow this consistent language pattern:
Letter name, character name (or keyword), sound.
For example:
“A, Active A, /a/.”
For more complicated sounds, this may look like:
“oa, /ō/, middle of words”
Keep it brisk. Start slow and build speed over time. If your child hesitates, simply model and move on. The goal is automatic recognition, not perfection.
Why this matters:
Automatic recall of sound-symbol relationships frees up mental space for blending and comprehension.
Step 2: Phonological Awareness (3–5 minutes)
Before reading words, warm up the ear.
You might:
- Segment simple words into individual phonemes: “cat: /c/ /a/ /t/
- Blend spoken sounds together /b/ /r/ /i/ /j/ … “bridge!”
- Swap one phoneme for another (say “mat.” change the /m/ to /s/ … “sat!”)
This part does not require any writing, it is all oral. It strengthens the child’s ability to hear and manipulate sounds, which is foundational for decoding.
Many parents skip this step. Don’t. It is crucial for a solid foundation.
Step 3: Introduce or Practice One New Grapheme
Keep it simple. One new grapheme at a time.
Teach:
- The grapheme
- The phoneme
- A keyword
- A few example words
Be explicit. Say the sound clearly. Talk about how the mouth moves. Have your child trace the grapheme while saying the phoneme. Multisensory learning helps the brain anchor the connection.
If you are using an Orton-Gillingham aligned approach, follow a clear sequence rather than teaching letters randomly.
If you are looking for ways to integrate social-emotional learning into your phonics routine, click here for ways to use Feelings-Based Phonics character cards when introducing new sounds.
Step 4: Blending Practice (5–10 minutes)
Now move into reading.
Use a small blending board with previously taught graphemes and your new target grapheme.
Touch under each grapheme as your child says the phoneme. Then slide your finger across to blend.
If your child is building a solid foundation of the more complicated sounds, you can move into more advanced types of blending. Read about the different ways to blend here.
If your child struggles, slow it down. Reading develops from accurate decoding, so stick with one sound for as long as it takes for them to feel confident with it.
Step 5: Dictation (5–10 minutes)
This is the step many homeschool families may overlook, and it’s actually one of the most impactful.
Dictation strengthens the connection between phoneme and grapheme in a deeper way than reading alone.
Say a word.
Have your child repeat it.
Tap the sounds in the word with your fingers. For example, “ship” /sh/ /i/ /p/
Write the graphemes that match each phoneme.
It helps for younger readers if you use a worksheet that has sound boxes for them to use as a guide. You can get one for free if you sign up for my email list below!
Pick anywhere from 3-6 words based on your timing and the child’s needs.
Then move to a short sentence once your child is ready:
For example: “The ship has a red flag.”
Dictation builds encoding skills, which will directly strengthen decoding.
Reading and spelling support each other and are crucial in developing a strong reader.
Step 6: Decodable Text (2-5 minutes)
End with success.
Choose a short decodable passage that aligns with the graphemes your child has learned, and they feel confident reading.
This is not the time for leveled readers with guessing strategies. Decodable text allows your child to apply what they have explicitly been taught and already know.
You want them thinking, “I can do this.”
Confidence really matters when it comes to learning how to read. Keep the content challenging but accessible.
What This Looks Like in Real Life
This entire routine can take anywhere from 15-45 minutes. In my classroom, it generally takes 45 minutes. In a homeschool setting, it can be much shorter.
You do not need elaborate materials. You just need:
- A clear sequence
- Sound cards
- A blending board
- A notebook for dictation
- Decodable text aligned to instruction
That is it. Check out my Instagram or Tiktok for ideas for blending boards and dictation words.
Homeschooling reading can be very successful without a teaching degree. It simply requires consistency and clarity.
If you stay steady with this structure five days a week, you will see growth.
A Gentle Reminder
Perfection is never the goal. Consistency is.
Some days will be smooth. Some days your child will resist. Some days you will doubt yourself.
Stay with the routine.
Structured literacy works because it is systematic, explicit, and cumulative. When you follow a simple daily framework, you remove decision fatigue and give your child’s brain exactly what it needs.
For more on how to incorporate Feelings-Based Phonics into your phonics routine, click here.