How I Teach Reading at Home (With Just Crayons and Paper)
You don’t need a curriculum.
You don’t need apps.
You don’t even need to “know phonics.”
Here’s what I use:
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- Paper
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- Markers or crayons
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- A whiteboard
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- A dry erase marker
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- A wipe
That’s it.
Which Letter First?
Start with what matters to your child. One little boy I worked with had a baby sister named Samantha—they called her Sam. That name stuck faster than any ABC chart ever could. So we built off it:
Sam, dam, bam, jam, ram.
If you don’t have a name to work with, start with common letters:
s, a, m, d, r, t
Stick with three-letter combos and keep the vowel in the middle:
am, Sam, dam, ram, tam, mam
Capital or Small Letters?
Honestly—don’t stress. We’re teaching based on what your child needs, not checking boxes. But if you want a rule of thumb, go with lowercase letters. Most books use lowercase, and that’s what they’ll see the most.
Step 1: Show—Don’t Tell
They need to see you read and see you write.
You’re probably already reading books together at night—amazing! Now add a bit of writing. Sit with them, draw silly things, and write words as you go. Sound out the letters naturally—don’t overthink your pronunciation. Just show them how writing connects to sounds.
This step isn’t about teaching. It’s about modeling. Keep doing this the whole time you’re teaching them. They’ll learn a ton just by watching you.
Step 2: Introduce the Letter Once
Write the letter. Describe its shape.
“This is S. It looks like a snake!”
Let them write it next to yours—just once.
Think of it like introducing a teddy bear. You show how to draw it once. After that, they know what it is. No need to repeat the shape again and again. Going forward, you just want them to say the sound.
Here’s How I Might Do It Day by Day:
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- Day 1: s, a, m
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- Day 2: d
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- Day 3: r
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- Day 4: t
Step 3: Bring It Back with Flash Cards
Now, show them: “Hey! You already know these letters!”
Use simple cards. Don’t switch up the font or confuse the shape. Just review:
s, a, m, d, r, t
Step 4: Teach Blending
Start with little words:
Sam, mam
Don’t worry if it’s a real word or not. When you’re teaching blending, even made-up words are great practice.
Step 5: Keep Repeating
Go over the sounds, review the words, and just keep blending until it clicks. Let them get comfortable—no pressure, no testing. Just fun.
That’s it. No lesson plans. No stress. Just real moments with your child, a handful of letters, and a whole lot of connection.
