5 Key Skills to Build Foundational Reading at Home (Even If You're Not a Teacher)

Reading success doesn't start in the classroom, it begins with a strong foundation built at home. As a parent, you may feel unsure of how to help your child if they're struggling, especially if reading doesn't come easily. But with the right guidance, simple tools, and consistent routines, you can be the one to make a real difference.

In this post, we’ll explore five essential building blocks of reading and how you can support your child in each area. Drawing on decades of reading science, especially insights from Dr. Sally Shaywitz, author of Overcoming Dyslexia, this guide is meant to empower parents with practical, proven strategies.

Before you dive in, check out my Recommended Learning Tools page for games, multisensory materials, and hands-on resources to support foundational skills.

👩‍⚕️ Who Is Dr. Sally Shaywitz?

Dr. Sally Shaywitz is a pioneering expert in the science of reading and co-founder of the Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity. Her landmark book Overcoming Dyslexia has helped thousands of families understand and support children with reading difficulties. With decades of research and advocacy, Dr. Shaywitz has become a trusted voice in helping parents recognize early warning signs and take effective action. Her work strongly emphasizes that reading struggles are not due to lack of intelligence, and that with early, systematic instruction, children with dyslexia and other reading challenges can thrive.

🔤 1. Phonemic Awareness: Hearing the Sounds in Words

What it is: The ability to hear and manipulate the smallest units of sound in words (called phonemes).

Why it matters: Dr. Shaywitz emphasizes that difficulties with phonemic awareness are a hallmark of dyslexia and should be addressed early for reading success.

Try These Activities at Home:

• Try oral blending games in the car: “What word do these sounds make: /s/ /u/ /n/?”
• Syllable Clapping: Clap out syllables in names or words to build awareness of how words break apart.
• Sound Sorting: Gather small items or pictures. Ask your child to sort them by beginning sound (e.g., all items that start with /b/ in one pile).
• Say the Word, Say the Sounds: Say a word like cat, and have your child say the individual sounds: /c/ /a/ /t/.
• Phoneme Deletion: Say “smile,” then ask your child to say it without the /s/ sound (answer: mile).
• Phoneme Substitution: Say “mat,” then ask your child to change the /m/ to /s/ (answer: sat).

🔠 2. Phonics: Matching Letters to Sounds

What it is: Learning how written letters represent sounds in spoken language.

Why it matters: According to Dr. Shaywitz, systematic phonics instruction is essential for children who struggle with decoding and spelling.

What you can do at home:

• Start with a Sequence: Introduce one letter-sound at a time, starting with high-utility consonants and short vowels (e.g., m, a, s, t). Follow a consistent sequence like the one used in UFLI.
• Build with Review: Review previously learned sounds daily before introducing new ones. Use flashcards, magnetic letters, or letter tiles.
• Blend and Segment Words: After introducing a few letters, show how to blend them to read words (e.g., m–a–t → mat) and pull them apart to spell.
• Use Cumulative Decodable Texts: Read decodable books that only use sounds your child has learned. This reinforces confidence and skill.
• Practice “Heart Words”: For irregular words, teach your child which parts are regular and which parts they need to remember “by heart.”
• Sort by Sound or Spelling Pattern: Give your child a mix of words and ask them to sort by vowel sound, ending spelling, or consonant pattern.

Multisensory Strategies:

• Trace letters in sand, salt, or shaving cream while saying the sound.
• Use sidewalk chalk or playdough to shape letters.
• Write sound-spelling patterns in rainbow colors to emphasize repeated practice.

🔁 3. Fluency: Reading Smoothly and Accurately

What it is: The ability to read text with appropriate speed, accuracy, and expression.

Why it matters: Dr. Shaywitz explains that fluency is the bridge between decoding and comprehension. Children who are not fluent often lose meaning even if they can decode.

What you can do at home:

• Reread familiar books to build fluency.
• Try echo reading: you read a sentence, then your child reads it.
• Use timed repeated readings to help with pacing.
• Celebrate effort, not speed—confidence is key!

Try These Fluency Builders:

• Paired Reading: Start by modeling fluent reading while your child follows along. Then read together, and eventually take turns reading.
• Dictation Practice: Dictate short, phonics-aligned sentences for your child to write, reinforcing decoding and fluency.
• Fluency Triangles: Use these visual tools to help children move from reading individual words to full sentences with repeated practice.
• Orthographic Processing Activities:
• Word Mapping: Link sounds, spelling, and meaning to help children store words.
• Repeated Exposure: Seeing and writing the same words helps solidify recognition.
• Multisensory Techniques: Trace letters in sand while saying them aloud.

🧩 4. Vocabulary: Knowing the Meaning of Words

What it is: Understanding the meaning of words and how to use them in context.

Why it matters: Dr. Shaywitz highlights vocabulary as a key contributor to comprehension. Without a strong vocabulary, children struggle to understand what they read.

What you can do at home:

• Read aloud daily from a variety of books (fiction and nonfiction).
• Talk about new words and connect them to what your child already knows.
• Play word games like “What’s another word for happy?” or “What does ‘gigantic’ remind you of?”

📘 5. Comprehension: Understanding What You Read

What it is: The ability to make sense of text, understand story elements, and think critically.

Why it matters: Comprehension is the ultimate goal of reading. Dr. Shaywitz encourages parents to ask questions and foster curiosity while reading. Research also shows that teaching the following key reading strategies—finding the main idea, understanding text structure, retelling, and using background knowledge—helps students with learning differences improve their comprehension.

What you can do at home:

• Pause during reading to ask “What just happened?” or “Why do you think the character did that?”
• Encourage predictions and make connections to your child’s own life.
• Use graphic organizers like story maps or sequence charts.
• Teach retelling with beginning, middle, and end summaries.
• Discuss the main idea of short passages (“What was this mostly about?”).
• Use simple texts to point out structure (e.g., how-to, story, or fact-based).
• Relate new content to your child's experiences: “Does this remind you of something we did?”

🛠 Tips from Dr. Shaywitz

✅ Early intervention matters—don’t wait.
✅ Struggles with reading are not due to lack of intelligence.
✅ A structured, systematic approach works best.
✅ Reading aloud to your child, even after he/she can read, is one of the most powerful ways to build skills and interest.
✅ Celebrate every small win; confidence is just as important as content.

💬 Final Thoughts

If your child shows signs of reading difficulty, remember: you are not alone, and help is available. Start with the basics, create consistent routines, and lean on research-backed resources.

🎁 Want a simple place to start? Download my Free Summer Reading Toolkit designed to support foundational skills with short, multisensory activities you can do at home.

👉 Reading Toolkit

And as Dr. Shaywitz reminds us: “Reading is not natural. It must be taught—deliberately and systematically.” Let’s make that learning accessible for every child.

🧩 Looking for a Step-by-Step Program?

If you’re looking for a complete, parent-friendly program that builds all five foundational skills—phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension—I highly recommend All About Reading.

It’s:

• ✅ Explicit and systematic
• ✅ Multisensory and hands-on
• ✅ Easy for parents to follow
• ✅ Aligned with the science of reading

Whether your child is just starting out or needs extra support, All About Reading is a trusted choice that makes learning to read feel achievable and fun.

👉 Learn more or get started with All About Reading

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products I believe in and think will help your child succeed.