Not sure which product you need?
How to Assess Your Student’s Reading Level and Correct Problem Areas
This guide doesn’t apply to students who haven’t yet learned to read. In those cases, you already know you’ll start at the very beginning. If you are working with First Step Phonics products, you would begin with the Level 0 workbooks. For anything else, read on.
This is only a guide. Without personally working with your student, I can’t accurately evaluate their reading level. I can only relay what I have found to be successful.
To determine your student’s weak points, you can test them on the various phonics steps listed on the next three pages. For quick reference, see the chart on the last page. How well your student does on those steps will determine the remedy. For example, if your student does fairly well on a step, any repairs would likely be minor. If your student has great difficulty in an area, then the solution would be more extensive.
Before I give you each testing step, let’s go over the possible remedies — which will involve reading-related activities or phonics games, workbooks, and/or reading books. For example, if your student needs only a little work in an area, you can have them do some worksheets or other activities to gain certainty. Or maybe more practice reading is enough to solve the problem. In that case, you would get the appropriate-level reading books. But if that level requires a lot of work, then you could end up giving your student activities, games, and possibly all the workbooks and all the reading books for that level.
In summary, find their weaknesses, then work on those areas a little or a lot, as needed.
But how do you determine whether a student is weak in an area? My rule of thumb is that if they hesitate at all, we’re going to work on it! I’ll explain why I do that. Think of something your student knows really well, like their nose, their dog, a TV show, or their favorite food. They’ll be able to tell you EXACTLY what that is, in great detail, with no hesitation. Because they know it that well. The word KNOW means to understand with certainty. With certainty, you don’t have to stop and think about it. And this is what you’re aiming for at each step when teaching anyone to read. If your student moves on without full certainty, the next step will likely be more difficult than it should’ve been.

Here are the phonics steps to test:
Level 0
Check that your student can easily do the following:
- Say the alphabet in sequence
- Identify every uppercase letter
- Identify every lowercase letter
- Match uppercase to lowercase
- Write out all the letters, both upper- and lowercase, in alphabetical order
First Step Phonics Level 0, workbooks 1 through 3, address the above areas.
Next, you’re going to make sure they know the sounds of the letters. If you’re not sure what the exact sounds are, I have an entire video dedicated to that, which can be found on the Parent Resources tab.
For the vowels, only check the short sounds for A, E, I, O, and U. The other vowel sounds are higher levels, and remember, we’re starting at the beginning.
Next, check the consonant sounds. At this level, we’re only doing the hard sound for C, as in CAT or CUB and the hard sound for G as in GET or GOB. The other sounds for C and G are in higher levels, and we’re not there yet.
First Step Phonics Level 0, workbooks 4 through 6, focus on letter sounds.

Level 1
Before we dive into this level…
I’ve found that when someone reads a book to a child and the child follows along, the child often ends up memorizing words. When you’re checking this level, you want to make sure they actually know the individual letter sounds and they didn’t just memorize the word because they’ve seen it so many times. The reason for this is that if they know the sounds to each letter, they can usually sound out three-letter words they’ve never seen before. If they’ve only memorized the word and don’t understand the individual sounds, the letters or combinations in different words will be meaningless to the student and they’ll be unable to sound them out.
The way to ensure they know the sounds and how to blend multiple sounds together is to give them made-up words like ZAM or BOK. They’ve never seen these fake words and therefore couldn’t have memorized them. You’ll find out pretty quickly whether they really do know the sounds and how to blend three letters into a word.
When you give them the fake words, give them a variety of consonants and be sure to check all five short vowels.
If they can read your three-letter made-up words, move to Level 2. If they can’t, you should have them work on it.
The First Step Phonics books and workbooks that focus on three-letter words are Level 1. Each workbook and each five-book set of stories is dedicated to one short vowel.

Level 2
This level involves consonant combinations — words with more than one consonant in a row, like DESK and STUMP. To test your student, you’ll test the student the same way as you did Level 1. Give them made-up words like ZILP, FOST, NENT. If they do well with them, work up to more difficult combinations, such as SCRAST, THREMP, STRONCH.
There are five workbooks for this level and twenty-five early-reader books. The first five-book set and the first workbook start off with words like DUCK, MISS, WELL. They are words with four letters, but they still have only three sounds. That’s a nice, easy bridge to four sounds in a word. The next twenty books and four workbooks in Level 2 gradually become more difficult.
Where you start in this level depends on how easy it is for the student to read the fake words. For instance, if they can read MUST or TENT well but trip up on STAMP, you may want to start with workbook three and/or set three of the books.
The First Step Phonics books and workbooks for this level are Level 2.
Level 3
The next step to check would be words with E at the end, which makes a long vowel sound, as in CUT to CUTE, CAP to CAPE, DOT to DOTE. Give them made-up words like BOPE, VUTE, HIBE, LAFE.
The First Step Phonics books and workbook for this level are Level 3.
Level 4
Level 4 focuses on other vowel-sound combinations. For instance, the AI in the word GAIN and TRAIL makes the long A sound. OW makes the long O sound as in ROW or GLOW. OW also makes the OU sound as in COW or BROWN. There are many other vowel combinations: EE as in SHEEP, OU as in HOUSE, AY as in SAY, OE as in TOE, AU as in HAUL, AW as in PAW, EW as in FEW, UE as in DUE. And much more. You should check every single one of these vowel blends and make sure your student knows them all. My teaching manual, How to Teach Anyone to Read, lists these vowel combinations and more, along with many words with those vowel blends. When testing your student, use these vowel combinations in made-up words.
The First Step Phonics books and workbooks to help with vowel blends are Level 4.
There are many other things to learn to become a great reader, but the above handles the bulk of it. To teach the higher levels, such as multi-syllable words or silent letters, you can check out the teaching manual, How to Teach Anyone to Read.
I know the above is a lot to take in. If it were easy, more people would be teaching and so many parents wouldn’t be dependent on schools, right? Just like your student needs practice getting good at something, so do teachers and parents. Try not to get frustrated and don’t be too hard on yourself. Keep at it, and just like anything worthwhile, you will get better at teaching as you gain experience.
And that’s it! If you have any questions, you can email us at info@FirstStepPhonics.com and one of us will do our best to answer you.
As always, be patient, be encouraging, be the teacher you wish you had!
Wishing you luck in creating a speedy, confident, and avid reader!
— Veronica Blade
Shipping & Delivery
When will my product ship out?
All retail orders are shipped from our warehouse within 1–2 business days. If you’re in the U.S., you can expect your order to arrive within 5–8 business days after it ships.
My order hasn’t arrived yet—it’s been over a week. What should I do?
First, please check your tracking number included in your email receipt for the latest delivery updates. If it’s been more than 24 hours past the expected delivery date, please contact us at info@FirstStepPhonics.com
Do you ship outside of the U.S.?
Yes, we do! Please note that international shipping costs extra and delivery times will vary. At this time, international orders can’t be placed directly through our website. To order, please call us at 888-992-7323 or email info@FirstStepPhonics.com.
How to order products
Where can I buy First Step Phonics products?
Our products are currently available on Amazon, Walmart and of course, FirstStepPhonics.com. We’re working hard to bring them to even more marketplaces—stay tuned!
In the meantime, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on social media to stay up to date on new products, announcements, and more fun learning resources!
Can I place an order by phone?
Of course! Give us a call at 888-992-7323. Our office hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:00 PM (PST), excluding holidays.
If we miss your call, we’re likely helping other customers—please leave a message or send us an email, and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Do you have a retail store where I can buy your products in person?
Not just yet—but we’re working on it! We’ll share updates as soon as in-store options become available.
What’s the easiest way to order?
Simply visit FirstStepPhonics.com or call 888-992-7323 to place your order.
Product purpose & info
Why should I choose First Step Phonics products?
Because learning to read should be simple and fun! Check out this video to see why First Step Phonics is the most straightforward phonics program out there—and how it helps kids (and beginners of any age) build strong reading skills with confidence.
Does Level 1 really stick to three-letter words?
It sure does! All 30 stories in our Level 1 early-reader books focus on short vowels and contain only simple three-letter words. A few common sight words like the, of, and to are included to make sentences flow naturally.
Level One has ALL of the following qualities:
- Three-letter words only
- No extra symbols
- Very few words per page
- Minimum use of words that don't follow the rules for this level
- Grammatically correct sentences
- Full-color, engaging illustrations
- Simple stories with a plot and resolution
What makes First Step Phonics different from Bob Books and other popular reading programs?
Our program is designed to make phonics truly simple. Watch our short video comparing our program to Bob Books.
The First Step Phonics program teaches reading one simple step at a time. Each full-color book features real stories, easy-to-follow sentences, and only the sounds your student has already learned—plus one new skill. Our matching workbooks reinforce each lesson with fun, hands-on practice to help build confidence and lasting reading success.
Are the early-reader books illustrated in full color?
Yes! Every story features bright, full-color illustrations and engaging plots designed to keep kids excited about reading from cover to cover.
If I buy all your products, what will it cost?
The more you bundle, the more you save! Check out our bundle options [here] (add link) to find the best value for your learner.
Is there a level for kids who don’t read at all?
Yes! Our Transitional Kindergarten workbooks are the perfect place to start: Worksheets that prepare children for kindergarten, focusing on hand-eye coordination, critical thinking, phonemic awareness, and more.
- Books 1–3 cover uppercase and lowercase letters, matching them, and alphabet order.
- Books 4–6 introduce the sounds each letter makes—the foundation for reading success.
First Books (13 books + 2 workbooks): Short early readers that gradually introduce each new sound and provide practice for every letter in the alphabet—except Q!
What reading levels do your products cover?
Our program takes readers all the way from Pre-K through Grade 2, building strong phonics and decoding skills step by step.
Are these materials only for children?
Not at all! First Step Phonics is designed for anyone learning to read English—from young children to adults and ESL learners.
What reading levels do your products cover?
Our program takes readers all the way from Pre-K through Grade 2, building strong phonics and decoding skills step by step.
What does each level focus on?
Transitional Kindergarten: Hand-eye coordination, critical thinking, and early phonemic awareness.
First Books: Short early readers introducing each new sound and every letter (except Q).
Level 0: Alphabet recognition and sequence, as well as letter sounds.
Level 1: Blending short-vowel three-letter words.
Level 2: Consonant blends (4–7 letter words).
Level 3: Long vowels (silent “E” words).
Level 4: Vowel blends (AI, EE, OE, and more).
Why is phonics so important when learning to read?
Phonics is the foundation of reading. It teaches learners to understand the sounds that letters and letter combinations make—so they can decode new words instead of memorizing them. Once your student understands phonics, they have the tools to sound out new, unfamiliar words and the ability to read confidently for life.
Teaching phonics
How young can my child start learning phonics?
Every child is different! Some are ready to begin as early as age three, while others may not be ready until six or later. It all depends on your child’s attention span, motivation, and interest in learning.
Can I teach my child myself?
Absolutely! If you have the time and patience, you can successfully teach your child using our Teaching Manual: How to Teach Anyone to Read. You’ll also find helpful tips and free resources on our FREE Resources tab at the top of this page.
What should my student do after finishing all 5 First Step Phonics levels?
Once your student completes Level 4, they’ll be ready for more advanced reading skills—like silent letters, multi-syllable words, and complex patterns. You’ll find guidance for these next steps in our teaching manual, How to Teach Anyone to Read.
Do you have any tips for new teachers?
Patience is key! Many new readers spend months—or even years—just learning to read simple three-letter words. Encouragement and consistency go a long way. You can also explore our teaching videos, FREE Resources, and the How to Teach Anyone to Read manual for more tips and best practices.
Are First Step Phonics materials suitable for non-English speakers?
Yes! Our program works wonderfully for both children and adults who are learning English. Because our system teaches reading through phonics, it also helps learners pronounce words correctly and improve comprehension.
Can the workbook pages be torn out?
The pages aren’t perforated, but they can be removed with scissors or carefully torn along the binding if you prefer to use them individually.
How can I determine my student’s current reading level?
Watch our video on assessing reading levels and remedying reading difficulties, or check out this page for a step-by-step overview.