Readigo Blog
No lectures - just what actually helps your kid read with more confidence.
Not sure where to start?
A 60-second check finds your child's level - and which articles fit.
Decodable Book Series Compared: 9 Major Series in Order of Difficulty
Nine decodable book series compared in order of difficulty - how the levels line up, what counts as level one, and which series to pick up after each one.
Read →2026-07-21 · 7 min readDolch vs Fry Sight Words: What's the Difference, and Which List to Use
The two standard sight-word lists compared: where each comes from, how they differ (220 vs 1,000 words, grade bands vs frequency order), and which one to actually use at home.
Read →2026-07-20 · 9 min readReading Level Chart by Grade: Lexile, F&P, DRA, and AR in One Table
One conversion chart for the four US leveling systems - Lexile, Guided Reading, DRA, and AR - what each one measures, and how to use a level without letting it limit your kid.
Read →2026-07-16 · 13 min readPhonemic Awareness vs Phonics: What's the Difference?
Phonemic awareness is hearing and manipulating the sounds in spoken words. Phonics maps those sounds to letters. Kids need both. Here's the difference, by age.
Read →2026-06-23 · 12 min readHow to Read With Expression: A Parent's Guide to Building Prosody
Reading with expression - prosody - is what turns flat, word-by-word reading into something that sounds like real speech. Here are concrete, research-backed ways to build it at home.
Read →2026-06-23 · 12 min readDyslexia vs. a Slow Reader: What's the Difference?
Not every slow reader has dyslexia, and not every dyslexic reader is simply slow. Here's how to tell the difference - what dyslexia actually is, what else makes reading slow, and when to get an evaluation.
Read →2026-06-22 · 12 min readDyslexia vs. ADHD in Kids: How to Tell the Difference
Dyslexia and ADHD look similar from the outside and often occur together, but they're different conditions with different help. Here's how they differ, why they overlap, and how to get clarity.
Read →2026-06-01 · 13 min readHow to Help a Child With Dyslexia Read Better at Home
What works at home for a child with dyslexia: a structured-literacy routine, decodable books, daily oral practice, and what a reading app can usefully add.
Read →2026-05-24 · 13 min readReading Readiness Signs Before Kindergarten (2026 Guide)
Reading readiness before kindergarten is a small set of pre-K skills. Six research-backed signals predict reading later, plus what parents can do at home.
Read →2026-05-23 · 11 min readSight Words vs. Decodable Words: What's the Difference?
Sight words and decodable words are not opposites. Most "sight words" are decodable. Here is the modern, research-backed way to think about both, and what parents should actually practice at home.
Read →2026-05-17 · 14 min readOrton-Gillingham Explained: The Gold Standard for Teaching Reading
A parent guide to the Orton-Gillingham approach. What it is, the four principles, how an OG lesson actually looks, why it works for kids with dyslexia, and what you can do at home.
Read →2026-05-17 · 14 min readDecodable Books List by Level: The Best Series for Each Stage of Reading
A research-backed parent guide to decodable book series by phonics level - Bob Books, Flyleaf, Geodes, Half-Pint, Reading A-Z, Phonic Books. You get how to pick the right level for your child, where to find them free, and what to read next.
Read →2026-05-17 · 13 min readWhat Is Prosody in Reading? The Missing Piece of Fluency
Your child reads every word right but sounds like a robot? That's a prosody gap - it predicts comprehension better than speed. Run the 6-point check tonight.
Read →2026-05-17 · 14 min readHow to Evaluate Reading Apps for Kids: 7 Criteria That Actually Matter
A research-backed parent guide to choosing reading apps - what to look for, what to avoid, and how to test any app against the Science of Reading. Honest framework, not a sales pitch.
Read →2026-05-17 · 13 min readDecodable Books Explained: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How to Use Them
A research-backed parent guide to decodable books. What makes a book decodable, how they differ from leveled and predictable readers, the best series, and how to use them at home to build accurate, confident readers.
Read →2026-05-17 · 15 min readPhonics vs. Whole Language: What the Reading Wars Got Right and Wrong
Phonics vs. whole language vs. balanced literacy, explained for parents. What the research says, why phonics won, and what good reading instruction looks like at home.
Read →2026-05-17 · 13 min readHelping a 7-Year-Old Read: A Parent's Practical, Research-Backed Guide
What a 7-year-old should be able to read. Signs they need extra help. The daily 15-minute method. Best books for 1st and 2nd grade. Common pitfalls. Grounded in Hasbrouck-Tindal norms, Trelease, and Samuels research.
Read →2026-05-17 · 13 min readSummer Reading Slide Recovery: How to Bounce Back from Summer Learning Loss
A recovery plan for kids who fell behind in reading over summer - what the slide looks like, how fast kids bounce back with daily practice, and the habits that close the gap before fall.
Read →2026-05-16 · 17 min readReading Milestones by Age: What Every Parent Should Expect from 4 to 12
First sounds at 4-5, simple sentences by 6-7, chapter books by 8-9. Use the age-by-age checker to see where your child fits and which gaps matter.
Read →2026-05-16 · 18 min readSigns of Dyslexia in Kids: An Evidence-Based Guide for Parents (2026)
Early signs of dyslexia in children by age, what dyslexia is (and is not), how it gets diagnosed, what works, and what parents can do at home - built on Shaywitz, the International Dyslexia Association, and structured-literacy research.
Read →2026-05-16 · 16 min readHow to Teach a Child to Read: A Step-by-Step Guide for Parents (2026)
A parent-to-parent guide to teaching a child to read at home - the five pillars, age-by-age steps, the daily habit that works, and warning signs to watch for.
Read →2026-05-09 · 11 min readReading Speed by Age: How Fast Should Your Child Read?
Words-per-minute norms by grade (Hasbrouck-Tindal 2017): about 60 WCPM at the end of 1st grade, 110 by 3rd, 140 by 5th. Full chart, plus a one-minute test to run at home.
Read →2026-05-07 · 9 min readWill My Kid Lose Reading Skills Over Summer Break?
The summer slide is real. It is not inevitable. Here is what 50 years of research says prevents the backslide for kids ages 6 to 12. And what does not.
Read →2026-05-07 · 10 min readMy Child Hates Reading. What Do I Do?
Most kids who hate reading are frustrated, mismatched, or both. Here is how to tell which, and a step-by-step plan to rebuild the habit.
Read →2026-04-26 · 9 min readHow Many Minutes a Day Should My Kid Read Aloud?
Most kids ages 6 to 12 need 15 to 20 minutes of reading aloud a day. Here is what counts, what doesn't, and how to keep it from turning into a fight.
Read →2026-04-26 · 9 min readDo Audiobooks Count as Reading?
Audiobooks build comprehension and vocabulary. They don't build decoding or sight-word automaticity. Here's how to use both without the guilt.
Read →2026-03-15 · 9 min readHow to Know If Your Child Is Reading Below Grade Level
Quiet signs your kid is falling behind, what "grade level" actually means, and what helps them catch up.
Read →2026-03-12 · 7 min readGraphic Novels vs Chapter Books: What Research Says
Are graphic novels real reading? Research says yes. Here's what the studies found - and why visual formats work for kids who avoid books.
Read →2026-03-10 · 9 min readWhat Is the Science of Reading? A Parent's Guide
The Science of Reading is changing how schools teach kids. What the research says, why it matters for your child, and the signs to look for in their classroom.
Read →2026-03-08 · 8 min readBest Reading Apps for Kids 2026: Honest Comparison
An honest side-by-side of the four big reading apps. Features, pricing, age ranges, and how each one actually teaches kids - graded against the Science of Reading.
Read →2026-03-05 · 9 min read5 Signs Your Child Needs a Reading Coach
Not sure if your kid needs extra reading help? Here are five everyday signs to watch for, plus when to hire a tutor vs try an app first.
Read →