How to Learn to Read With Starfall

The online program called Starfall features free, easy-to-use lessons for kids learning how to read. Preschool and kindergarten children read books sequentially to learn letter sounds, phonics and sight words. Starfall offers four levels of progressive lessons for new readers, as well as games and videos.

Instructions

1. On Starfall.com, click "ABCs" for children who are just learning the alphabet. Choose one of the 26 alphabet blocks to open an easy reader featuring that letter. Listen to the vowel songs at the bottom of the page. Return to the home page once the child masters all the letters.

2. Select the next level, "Learn to Read." Start at Lesson 1. Read the book "Zac the Rat," then play the two "Make-a-Word" games for the "an" and "at" sounds. Watch the "Alphabet" movie.

3. Move on to Lesson 2. Read the book "Peg the Hen" and play the two "Make-a-Word" games for the "en" and "et" sounds. Watch the "Left to Right" movie.

4. Complete all 15 lessons in "Learn to Read" by reading the books, playing the games and watching the movies in sequential order.

5. Choose the next level, "It's Fun to Read." Click one of the categories: "All About Me," "Art Gallery," "Magic," "Music," "Poetry," "Tongue Twisters" or "Bird Riddles." Practice reading skills with the easy readers in each category. Finish all of the "It's Fun to Read" books.

6. Move on to the fourth level, "I'm Reading." Choose a collection to read: "Three Little Plays," "Fiction and Nonfiction," "Comics," "Folk Tales," "Greek Myths" or "Chinese Fables." Once you read all the books in the "I'm Reading" level, you've completed the Starfall program.

Tips & Warnings

• Check out the links at the bottom of the Starfall home page labeled "Parents," "Educators" and "Download Center" for printables and teaching ideas.

• Don't rush children to move to the next level before they're ready. Beginning readers thrive on repetition. Allow kids to read and re-read their favorite books and play the games over and over again.

References

• Starfall.com

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish
• Learn to Read with Starfall