A Simple and Practical Guide for Mothers
Many mothers wonder how to teach reading at home in a simple and effective way. This is one of the most common concerns in homeschooling. Yet, reading can be taught simply, peacefully, and successfully—even with several children at once. The Classical Liberal Arts Academy’s English Reading Gospel of John (ELA-099) course provides a clear and orderly method. It uses phonetic flashcards and Sacred Scripture to guide children step by step into reading. In this article, we will walk through how to use this course in your home.
Begin with Simple Preparation
First, print out Lesson 1 as well as the flashcards from Lesson 1. These flashcards should be printed double-sided, so that the letter appears on the front and the pronunciation guide appears on the back.
Take a little time to look through the cards yourself. You do not need to master everything at once. Simply become familiar with the sounds and examples. Keep the cards together in one place. You may wish to use a small box or wrap them with a rubber band neatly for daily use. You will need one set for each child, as well as one set for yourself.
Gather the Children Together
This method works very well with multiple children. Gather all the children who are learning to read, even if they are at slightly different levels. Have them sit together at a table or on the floor. Keep the setting calm and free from distractions. You are not teaching separate lessons. You are leading one simple lesson for all.
Step One: Practice the Sounds Daily
Begin each lesson by showing the flashcards one at a time. Hold up a card, showing the children the letter side. Say the sound clearly. Then have the children repeat it together.
For example:
- You show the short “o” sound
- You say the sound clearly
- The children repeat it
Move slowly and calmly. Do not rush. If a child struggles, simply repeat the card again later. There is no need to correct harshly or create pressure. This daily repetition builds familiarity and confidence.
Step Two: Turn Sound Practice into a Simple Game
Once the children have learned a few sounds and can begin to recognize the letters that make them, you can turn the lesson into a simple game. Give each child a set of the flashcards. Have them spread the cards out on the table in front of them so they can see each one clearly. Then, say a sound aloud that you have already practiced. For example, you might say the short “o” sound. Ask the children to find the card that makes that sound and hold it up for you to see.
Watch carefully and respond with encouragement. Praise the children who find the correct card. At the same time, also praise any child who is trying, even if he chooses the wrong card. This is important, especially for younger children who may find this difficult at first. Keep the tone light and cheerful. The goal is not perfection, but familiarity and confidence.
As you introduce more sounds, the game becomes more interesting and more challenging. The children must listen more carefully and think more clearly. This simple exercise helps children:
- connect sounds to letters
- practice recognition quickly
- remain attentive and engaged
Most importantly, it allows learning to take place in a joyful and peaceful way.
Step Three: Memory Words and Building Words with the Cards
After the children have begun recognizing sounds and letters, you can introduce the memory words provided in the lesson.
First: Teach the Memory Words
The lesson includes a set of memory words. These words also appear on the flashcards and should be memorized by the children. When you hold up a memory word card, tell the children clearly, “This is a word.”Then read the word aloud and have the children repeat it together. For example, if the card says was, you say “was,” and the children repeat, “was.” In some cases, the card may show a word ending, such as -ing. Explain that this is a word ending that will appear in other words.
Repeat these memory words daily. The goal is that whenever you hold up the card, the children can immediately say the word without hesitation. You can also continue the game by saying a word aloud and asking the children to find and hold up the correct card. This reinforces recognition and keeps the lesson active.
Second: Build Words with Letter Cards
After practicing the memory words, begin showing the children how to build those same words using individual letter cards. Lay out the letter cards and demonstrate how the sounds come together.
For example:
- Place “w,” “a,” and “s” together to form was
- Show how “g,” short “o,” and “d” form God
Let the children try this themselves. Say a word and have them build it using their cards. This step is very important. It helps the child understand that:
- words are made from individual sounds
- those sounds can be combined in order
- reading follows a clear and logical structure
Work slowly and patiently. Repeat often. Over time, the child will begin to recognize these patterns with ease.
Step Four: Read from the Lesson Text
As the children progress, begin working with the actual lesson text from the Gospel of John. The first section, the text includes helpful markings that show pronunciation and syllables. Read this together slowly. Point to each word as you read. Let the children follow, pointing to each letter/word with their finger as you read. Allow the children to attempt to read the text also. Teach them to follow along with their finger so that they do not lose their place.
Do not worry if they cannot read everything yet. They are becoming familiar with the structure of words.
Step Five: Have Children Mark the Text Themselves
When the children are ready, print a clean copy of the lesson text without markings.
Now give them the task of adding the markings themselves:
- marking vowel sounds
- adding diacritical marks
- dividing words into syllables
This step is very important. It moves the child from passive recognition to active understanding. They are no longer just seeing the marks. They are applying them. After the child marks the clean copy, have them read the text out loud to you. They can also be shown how to compare the marks they made with the lesson text. If they made any mistakes or forgot any diacritical marks, have them make corrections.
Step Six: Add Copywork
As the child’s handwriting improves, begin having them copy the words and verses.
They may write:
- on paper
- on a whiteboard
- on a chalkboard
At first, keep this short. A few words or a short phrase is enough. After copying, have them go back and add the diacritical marks and syllable divisions. This reinforces what they have learned in a deeper way. The hand, the eye, and the mind all work together.
Step Seven: Keep Lessons Short and Peaceful
Each lesson does not need to be long. In fact, shorter lessons are often better.
A good lesson might include:
- reviewing flashcards
- building a few words
- reading a short portion of the text
- a little writing or marking
This can be done in a short amount of time. Most importantly, keep the atmosphere calm. Learning happens best when the child is at peace.
Teaching Multiple Children with Confidence
If you are teaching several children to read at home, remember that they will not all progress at the same speed. This is normal. Younger children will learn by listening and watching. Older children will take a more active role. Do not separate them unless necessary. The shared lesson strengthens the whole group. Over time, each child will grow according to his ability.
Encouragement for Mothers
You do not need a complicated system to teach reading.
You need:
- clear sounds
- simple practice
- daily repetition
- patience
This course provides all of these. Trust the process. Trust the simplicity. And most importantly, trust that your faithful daily work will bear fruit. In time, your children will read. And they will begin by reading the Word of God. With patience and consistency, you can successfully teach reading at home using this simple method.
A Simple Beginning
Take it one step at a time. Do a little each day. What seems small at the beginning will grow into something great.
You can begin today with the first free lesson here:
https://classicalliberalarts.com/blog/english-reading-lesson-01-john-11-2/
If your child is already a student in the Classical Liberal Arts Academy, you can enroll in the English Reading course here:
https://classicalliberalarts.com/study/course/view.php?id=4
If your child is not yet enrolled, you may subscribe to the CLAA Student Plan—which includes this English Reading course along with all other available courses—here:
https://classicalliberalarts.com/catalog/enrollment-subscriptions/student/
Reflection Questions
- Am I keeping reading lessons simple and consistent?
- Do I allow my children to learn together peacefully?
- Am I patient with slow progress?
- How can I make learning both joyful and orderly in my home?
A Prayer for Mothers
Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the eternal Word of the Father.
Help me to teach my children with patience and wisdom.
Give me peace in my daily work.
Guide my children as they learn to read,
that they may come to know and love Your Word.
Bless our home and make it a place of truth and charity.
Amen.
