A Gentle Beginning to Reading

Learning to read should feel joyful, peaceful, and full of wonder.

Rooted in Reading is a comprehensive, hands-on phonics program thoughtfully designed for preschool, kindergarten, and beginning readers. Rather than rushing through letters or relying on endless worksheets, this program builds strong literacy foundations through play, movement, meaningful experiences, and explicit phonics instruction.

Created by a certified elementary educator, every lesson encourages children to move at their own pace while developing confidence, curiosity, and a lifelong love of reading.

Who Is This Program For?

This program is perfect for:

• Preschool (ages 3–5)
• Kindergarten
• Beginning readers
• Homeschool families
• Classroom teachers
• Tutors
• Reading intervention

Whether your child is just beginning to recognize letters or is ready to blend simple words, this program provides a gentle pathway into reading.

What You'll Learn

Throughout Step One, children will:

✓ Learn all foundational letter sounds

✓ Practice beginning sound identification

✓ Build phonemic awareness

✓ Strengthen fine motor skills

✓ Develop proper letter formation

✓ Blend sounds into simple CVC words

✓ Read their very first decodable book

Most importantly, they'll gain confidence as they discover they can truly read.

What's Included

🌿 Parent Guide

A complete introduction explaining the philosophy behind the program, how to teach each lesson, pacing suggestions, and step-by-step instructions for every activity.

🗺️ Letter Sound Roadmap

A color-coded roadmap guides your child through the entire Beginning Reading Program, helping you easily track progress while introducing letters in a research-based sequence.

🔤 Watercolor Letter Cards

Beautiful watercolor alphabet cards introduce each new letter with clear visuals and memorable imagery, making letter learning inviting and engaging.

🌱 Picture Sound Cards

Children practice connecting beginning sounds with meaningful vocabulary through beautifully illustrated picture cards that encourage sorting, matching, and conversation.

✋ Rooted in Letter Sheets

Each letter includes three multisensory activities:

Build It

• Form letters with play dough, clay, sticks, rocks, or other natural materials.

Trace It & Try It

• Practice proper letter formation and handwriting.

Find It

• Search for target letters to strengthen recognition while having fun.

✂️ Printable Moveable Alphabet

Print, cut, laminate, and build words together as your child begins blending sounds into real words.

📎 Beginning Sound Clip Cards

Hands-on phonemic awareness activities using clothespins to identify beginning sounds while strengthening fine motor skills.

🎲 Sound Review Games

Playful and engaging games that reinforce learned sounds through movement and repetition, making review exciting instead of repetitive.

🧩 Word Building Cards

Children begin blending sounds to build and read their first CVC words using picture cards and their moveable alphabet.

📖 Decodable Mini Readers

Celebrate your child's reading journey with a simple decodable book that allows them to apply everything they've learned in an authentic reading experience.

A Gentle Teaching Rhythm

Every lesson follows a simple progression that builds confidence one step at a time:

1. Introduce new letter sounds.
2. Explore beginning sounds through games and hands-on activities.
3. Practice with multisensory letter sheets.
4. Reinforce learning through review games.
5. Blend sounds into simple words.
6. Celebrate success by reading together.

Why Families Love Rooted in Reading

🌿 Multisensory and hands-on

📚 Explicit phonics instruction

🎨 Beautiful watercolor illustrations

🧠 Research-based literacy practices

🌱 Montessori and nature-inspired learning

🎉 Play-based activities children actually enjoy

❤️ Encourages confidence instead of pressure

Created by a Certified Teacher

Hi! I'm Emily Durrance, a certified elementary educator, homeschool teacher, and homeschool mom with over nine years of experience teaching young learners.

Rooted in Reading was created to provide families with a beautiful, intentional phonics program that balances evidence-based reading instruction with the joy, wonder, and connection every child deserves.

I hope this program becomes one of your favorite parts of your homeschool day.

Happy learning!

Emily