Winner — 2025 Best Homeschool Curriculum & Resources AwardThe homeschool reading program parents trust to teach their child to read
A Good Start Reading makes teaching your child to read at home simple and joyful. In just 10 minutes a day, you can build your child's reading confidence step by step — no teaching experience required.
- Just 10 focused minutes a day
- Step-by-step phonics — no prep, no apps
- Created by a certified reading specialist with 30+ years of experience
The free guide includes Lesson 1 — from HowToTeachAChildToRead.com.
Winner of the 2025 Best Homeschool Curriculum & Resources Award
A Good Start Reading has been honored with the 2025 Best Homeschool Curriculum & Resources Award by HowToHomeschool.com. The recognition highlights our commitment to equipping homeschooling parents with practical tools to build a strong educational foundation — and to nurturing a lifelong love of reading at home.
A simple, phonics-based homeschool reading curriculum
Sequential lessons follow a natural learning progression, so your child builds real reading skills one confident step at a time.
10 minutes a day
Short, focused lessons keep kids engaged and build consistency — no overwhelm, just steady progress one day at a time.
Step-by-step phonics
Kids start with short vowel sounds (a as in cat, e as in bed, i as in sit, o as in dog, u as in sun) and master over 230 short-vowel words in meaningful, confidence-building lessons.
Designed for parents
Clear guides mean no teaching experience is required. No prep — just open the book and begin. Repeat lessons or move ahead only when your child is ready.
Get the free parents guide — Lesson 1 included
See how easy it is to teach your child to read at home. The free parents guide walks you through the method and includes the very first lesson, completely free.
What's included in Lesson 1
- Word formation activity
- 4 phonics games: Cup Game, Flip Cards, Match Game, Cut-Up Words
- Practice word lists & sentence reading
- Short story: The Cats
- "b" vs "d" letter confusion tips
- Final word check + tracking sheet
Why homeschool families choose this reading program
Many programs are overwhelming, packed with complicated steps, or rely on endless screen time. A Good Start keeps it simple and effective: just you and your child, learning together.
- No apps or subscriptions — buy once, use forever
- Created by a certified reading specialist with 30+ years of experience
- Flexible pace — repeat lessons or move ahead when ready
- Joyful learning with fun stories and beloved characters like Oliver Poons
- No screens required — just you and your child
- Over 230 short-vowel words taught step by step
Meet the creator: Lois Wendus
A Good Start Reading was created by Lois Wendus, owner of Leaps in Learning tutoring and a retired teacher with 30+ years of helping children build literacy skills. After hearing from so many parents frustrated with programs that moved too quickly or didn't provide enough support, Lois created A Good Start — an approachable, flexible homeschool reading program designed to foster confidence in young readers and give parents a tool they can rely on.
Start your homeschool reading journey today
Download the free parents guide for beginning reading help — with Lesson 1 included — and see how easy it is to teach your child to read at home. 10 minutes a day is all it takes.