Help a dyslexic child learn to read using the Reading Staircase.
Teachers often use the Reading Staircase to teach reading. It breaks learning new words into easy steps.
Each step on the Reading Staircase helps the child learn new word sounds using:
- Word quizzes.
- Word sound puzzles.
- Rhyming games.
The Reading Staircase is based on scientific research. To learn more, check out Phonetics awareness intervention.
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Help a dyslexic child learn word sounds
Fun sound puzzles, in 3 short activities. 10 minutes a day, with free printable worksheets.
What is the Reading Staircase?
The Reading Staircase is a step-by-step guide for teaching reading. It helps children build strong foundations.
Children should master each step before moving on to the next. This prevents gaps in their learning.
Dyslexic children can struggle in school if they have gaps in their learning. These gaps lead to weak foundations in:
- Reading.
- Writing.
- Spelling.
A child with weak foundations may find it hard to read and write simple words of two, three and four letters.
The Reading Staircase helps children practise basic word sounds. This boosts their reading skills. Being a good reader can also help a child improve their writing and spelling.
Try it today: 2 quick games
Start at the bottom of the staircase. Play these short games with your child:
- Clap it – say your child’s name and clap once for each beat. “Ol-i-ver” is 3 claps.
- Rhyme it – say a short word, like “cat”. Ask your child to find a word that rhymes, like “hat”.
If your child finds a game easy, try a few more words. If they struggle, stay on that step and practise a little each day.
Want the whole Reading Staircase in one place?
The Reading Staircase card shows every step, with ready-made games for you on the front and a picture activity for your child on the back. Everything is in one place. It’s one of 56 ten-minute activities in the Mooki Cards deck.
Instant download · use on a phone or tablet, or print and fill in
How to use the Reading Staircase
Practise one step at a time with a fun activity. This will help the child climb the Reading Staircase.
To practise each step on the Reading Staircase, see these activities:
- Syllables: Clapping Syllables
- Rhyming: Rhyming Tags
- Alliterations: Awesome Alliterations
- Onset and rime: Word Families
- Sound identification: Start and End Sounds
- Blending sounds: Blending Sounds
How can the Reading Staircase help children read?
Get advice from the Dyslexic Mum in the video below.
In the video, ‘What is the reading staircase?’, the Dyslexic Mum shows the steps on the Reading Staircase.
To get the most from the Reading Staircase, follow these top tips:
- Take it step by step – each step on the Reading Staircase has a fun game. Play the game with the child. If they match the right words and sounds, you can move to the next step.
- Look for gaps in learning – focus on one step at a time. If the child struggles, it shows a gap in their learning. They may need extra help to improve their reading.
- Try learning new words – you can play the games many times. Use new word lists, like the Word Lists in the Mooki Cards deck, to practise more words and sounds. The more the child practises, the better they will become at reading and writing.