Beginner Reading Material

Did I mention yet that Honor is reading? She started a few weeks before she turned five, but it was rough. Very rough. And if you've ever taught a child to read, you'll know the rough part is helping them find books they can enjoy reading while their abilities are still quite limited. Our English language doesn't follow it's own rules in a manner predictable enough for a 5 year old's tastes. That is why I was very excited to have the opportunity to review the website Rime to Read with the TOS crew.


Don't worry, Rime is not a poor spelling of 'rhyme'. Intentional misspelling is one of my biggest pet peeves. You will never find me shopping at a Kwik Trip. I can't do it. But actually, Rime is a real word. It refers to word patterns or families. The rimes encourage recognition of sounds as the child learns to read. This isn't just a program of beginner books, these books help teach them to read. For those that are already reading, the books boost confidence and increase speed and fluency.

I love so many things about this program. I'll try to sort them out to help you understand, but you really must try their free book for yourself. Rime to Read includes 20 books that you can read online or print and hold them. Each rime is color-coded and can be clicked on to hear them read aloud. The books progress in order by adding in words from other families which they have already learned. The books teach each vowel's short sound as well as 46 high-frequency sight words.

It is so easy for beginning readers to get frustrated. I have many beginning reader books on my shelf, picked up here and there through the years. One of these better "beginner readers", level A, includes words such as "reach", "wash", and "high". If you've been there, you know that words like these in a level 1 reader are capable of producing tears in both the child and the parent.

Rime to Read books are not frustrating. These books are written to help them succeed. It is a short program and, once finished, the readers are ready to go on to more advanced reading levels. The cost for the 20-book set is $44.99, or you can purchase the 4-book set for one short vowel for $9.99. This gives you lifetime-access to the books online and printable pdf files so that all of your children get to enjoy the program for years to come. I am a big time penny-pincher and I don't invest in programs that will not benefit all of my family. We have boxes of books the boys enjoyed that are now waiting for the girls to take their turn. Unfortunately, many of these books were "loved" to pieces, especially those early year books, and will have to be re-purchased for the girls. The Rime to Read books can be printed and reprinted over and over again.....a worthy investment.

I love the simplicity of the program. The illustrations are attractive but not distracting. I love that Honor can sit and read the books online and click to hear the words if she wants to, though we usually sit together with her on my lap to read them online. I love that teaches in steps and reinforces the sounds already learned as she progresses. I love that I can print the books and let Honor run off with them or show them off. Most of all, I love the confidence boost that it gives to early readers. Honor is so proud of herself each time she finishes a book.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

*note: the books average about 20 pages in length. The book in these pictures is only a partial scrap copy I started making before realizing we were almost out of printer ink.

Pin It