Use the Right Materials at the Right Time 📖✨
One of the biggest keys to early reading success is using materials that truly match where a student is in their learning journey. When lessons build gradually — sound by sound — students absorb more, feel less frustrated, and gain confidence as they go.
That’s why books and workbooks designed for specific phonics stages can make such a difference. The materials should cover only what the student is currently learning — without introducing extra letters, tricky punctuation, or sound combinations they haven’t learned yet.
In an ideal progression, new readers begin with short-vowel, three-letter words and stay there until they’ve mastered that step before moving on. Each small win builds momentum.
This step-by-step philosophy is exactly why we created First Step Phonics. Our books and workbooks are designed to cover each baby step, with plenty of practice to help students truly master one stage before advancing.
Before letters and sounds even begin, the very first step is learning how to follow directions and complete small tasks — like drawing lines, identifying shapes, and building hand-eye coordination.
🎥 A great example of starting at the right place
This short video highlights why Transitional Kindergarten (TK) learners benefit from materials designed specifically for the in-between stage — not too easy, not too advanced.
📘 Featured Resource: TK Workbook
Our Transitional Kindergarten workbook is designed to prepare students for future reading success through simple, confidence-building activities. It focuses on foundational skills like hand-eye coordination, steady line drawing, visual discrimination, and early phonemic awareness — all before formal phonics begins.
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The First Step Phonics Team
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