Websites That Strengthen Reading Skills

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Building strong reading skills doesn’t have to feel like homework. With the right tools, students can practice phonics, decoding, spelling, and comprehension in playful, meaningful ways. Each resource below aligns with the Science of Reading and supports key literacy areas such as phonological awareness, orthographic mapping, vocabulary, and fluency

Starfall Education

Created by a doctor who overcame dyslexia, Starfall offers interactive games, songs, and books for grades K-5. Each activity is research-based and supports early literacy through systematic phonics practice and engaging repetition.

Education.com

After creating a free account, families can access an extensive library of reading games organized by grade level and skill area. It’s a great option for reinforcing comprehension and vocabulary between tutoring sessions.

IXL Language Arts

Covering pre-K through 12th grade, IXL combines quizzes, games, and progress tracking to help students master phonics, grammar, and comprehension at their own pace.

ABCya!

ABCya remains a classroom favorite for a reason — free, grade-based games that reinforce phonics, vocabulary, and fluency. Many games also integrate typing and grammar skills, making them a fun way to multitask learning.

Phonics and Stuff

Simple and teacher-friendly, this site includes printable phonics games, decodable books, and worksheets for emergent readers. It’s perfect for hands-on literacy centers or home practice.

Spelling City

Also known as LearningWorks for Kids, this site builds spelling, phonics, and working memory skills through no-login games. Students can practice sound-symbol correspondence and word analysis while having fun.

Reading Eggs

With thousands of digital books and interactive lessons, Reading Eggs motivates young learners to read more often. Parents can track growth over time through a structured, phonics-based progression. Includes a free 30-day trial.

All of these programs support key Science of Reading principles:

  • Phonemic awareness: recognizing and manipulating sounds in words.

  • Phonics and decoding: connecting letters and sounds systematically.

  • Fluency and comprehension: practicing reading smoothly and with meaning.

  • Vocabulary and spelling: reinforcing orthographic patterns through repetition and context.

Digital practice never replaces structured instruction — but it strengthens the foundation students build in one-on-one sessions. Used consistently, these tools can boost motivation, confidence, and reading independence.

Final Tip for Families

Pick two or three platforms to rotate each week. Pair 10–15 minutes of focused play with guided reading or structured literacy activities for the best results.

Happy Reading,

-CRC

Apps That Strengthen Reading Skills

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Apps for Phonics and Word Building

Blending Board (Free on iTunes)

Create custom decks of phonemes and blends to strengthen decoding and blending. Excellent for students learning to connect sounds to letters.

Planet Lettera (Free on iTunes, ages 5+)

Students build and feed words to friendly monsters, practicing sound-letter connections in a game-based world. Perfect for early readers exploring phonemic awareness.

Pocket Phonics ($6.99, iTunes)

A systematic app that teaches letter sounds, handwriting, and decoding, closely aligned with the Science of Reading.

Sortegories (Subscription; available on iTunes, Android, and desktop)

Supports encoding, decoding, and vocabulary in context through word-sorting games that help build fluency and comprehension.

Spelling and Word Study Apps

Spelling Star ($1.99, Apple)

Upload or create custom spelling lists and track student progress. Students receive instant feedback and can review missed words for mastery.

A+ Spelling Test (Free)

Quickly build your own spelling tests with recorded word prompts. Simple and flexible for practicing high-frequency and decodable words.

SpellBoard ($4.99, Apple)

Add sentences, hints, or voice prompts to provide context for each spelling word. Ideal for grades 1–5 and students who benefit from auditory supports.

Mystery Word Town ($3.99, Apple)

Solve fun mysteries by spelling words correctly to unlock clues. You can add sight words or custom lists to personalize the challenge.

Night Zookeeper (7-Day Trial, Annual Membership)

Combines creative writing, spelling, and grammar in a colorful story world. Ideal for ages 6–12, it turns literacy practice into an adventure.

DoodleSpell (Free Trial, then Monthly Subscription)

Allows users to customize word lists, track progress, and reinforce spelling patterns. Designed for students ages 5–11.

Digital practice never replaces structured instruction — but it strengthens the foundation students build in one-on-one sessions. Used consistently, these tools can boost motivation, confidence, and reading independence.

Final Tip for Families

Pick two or three platforms to rotate each week. Pair 10–15 minutes of focused play with guided reading or structured literacy activities for the best results.

Happy Reading,

-CRC

What is Dyslexia and Correct Reading Intervention?

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Watch Colorado Reading Center Director Robert Windle’s interview with the Colorado Neurodiversity Chamber of Commerce for Dyslexia Awareness Month.

Colorado READ Act (Reading to Ensure Academic Development)

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READ Act Basics:

Colorado’s READ Act (Reading to Ensure Academic Development) is aimed at ensuring students with significant reading deficiencies are identified and supported. Under this legislation, struggling students should be identified and receive the support they need to become proficient readers by the end of third grade. The law requires schools to identify students with significant reading deficiencies and create READ plans for intervention. 

Colorado Senate Bill 25-200 expanded the READ Act:

This bill expands the state’s READ Act to include mandatory dyslexia screening for all public-school students in kindergarten through third grade. Starting the 2027–2028 school year, schools must screen for key reading skills like phonological awareness and decoding. Parents will be notified if concerns arise, including signs of dyslexia, and schools must offer a targeted intervention plan. Teachers can now openly discuss dyslexia in meetings and reports. While there are no legal penalties for non-compliance, schools risk losing READ Act funding if they don’t meet these new requirements.

Understanding your child’s rights and the school’s responsibilities under this law can help you advocate more effectively for your child. Colorado Reading Center is here to help you navigate that process. While the READ Act has improved awareness, intervention and district implementation of support varies. Also, there are few repercussions for failing to identify or support struggling students. Supplementing with private support may be necessary if school services are limited.

 

Colorado Expands Dyslexia Screening: What Parents Need to Know

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On May 23, 2025, Colorado signed Senate Bill 25-200 into law, expanding the Colorado READ Act to include formal dyslexia screening and support. By the 2027–2028 school year, all public schools will be required to fully implement the new provisions .

Why This Matters

The goal of the bill is simple but powerful: early identification and intervention. Research shows that when children with dyslexia are recognized early, they can get the right support and have a far stronger chance of keeping pace with their peers.

Key Changes Families Should Know

1. Universal Screening

  • Kindergarten: All students will be screened in the final 90 days of the school year.

  • Grades 1–3: Students will be screened within the first 90 days of the school year .

2. What the Screening Looks At

Schools must use research-based screeners that check for:

  • Phonological awareness

  • Alphabetic principle

  • Decoding skills

These are the core areas where children with dyslexia often show early challenges .

3. Expanded Definition of Reading Deficiency

The law broadens what counts as a “reading deficiency” to include:

  • Dyslexia characteristics (like spelling and decoding struggles)

  • Teacher and parent observations

  • Diagnostic tools and educational history

For the first time, teachers can explicitly use the word dyslexia in reports and conversations with families .

4. Parent Notification & Support

If a child shows risk factors, schools must:

  • Notify parents promptly

  • Explain the concerns clearly (including dyslexia risk)

  • Provide a targeted intervention plan with evidence-based supports

Recommended Dyslexia Screeners

While the bill doesn’t mandate one tool, screeners must be valid, reliable, and developmentally appropriate. Common examples include:

  • Acadience Reading (DIBELS)

  • Shaywitz DyslexiaScreen

  • CTOPP (Comprehensive Test of Phonological Processing)

  • PASS or PALS

What Happens If Schools Don’t Comply?

There are no direct legal penalties, but compliance is tied to READ Act funding. Schools that fail to implement screening could face scrutiny or risk losing funds from the Colorado Department of Education .

The Bottom Line

This new law is a big step forward for Colorado families. It:

  • Makes dyslexia screening a universal practice in early grades

  • Promotes clear, open communication with parents

  • Ensures earlier, evidence-based interventions for struggling readers

For parents, it means better awareness, stronger advocacy, and a clearer path to support if your child shows signs of dyslexia.

You can read the full signed bill here: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/2025a_200_signed.pdf 

Student Imagining Letters

What Is Visual Memory—Why It Matters for Reading and Learning

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What Is Visual Memory—Why It Matters for Reading and Learning

Visual memory is our ability to create and recall mental images. It lets us picture things in our mind—like a face, a place, or even a word. When a child remembers what a letter looks like, or can imagine the word “dog” and picture a furry friend, that’s visual memory at work.

Read more

The Power of the Pencil: Why Handwriting Still Matters

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The Power of the Pencil: Why Handwriting Still Matters

In a digital world, it is easy to assume typing skills have replaced the need for handwriting. However, research tells a different story and demonstrates just how essential handwriting is for developing minds.

Read more

Recommended Games and Tools for Building Reading Skills

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At Colorado Reading Center, we believe that building strong reading skills starts at home. The following games and tools are ones we regularly recommend to families because they support phonemic awareness, memory, sequencing, vocabulary, and cognitive flexibility in fun and engaging ways. These are great, fun ways to develop early literacy skills.

These are affiliate links, which means CRC may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through them. This comes at no extra cost to you and helps support our ongoing work with students. Shopping on Amazon? Use our link to support CRC at no extra cost!

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Games for Building Literacy and Brain Power

  • Blink – A fast-paced card game that strengthens pattern recognition and visual processing.
  • Tenzie – A dice game great for speed, coordination, and number recognition.
  • Rory’s Story Cubes – Encourages storytelling, sequencing, and creativity.
  • Bananagrams – A word-building game perfect for spelling and vocabulary.
  • My First Bananagrams – Early learner version with color-coded letters.
  • Boggle Jr – Phonics-based matching game for emerging readers.
  • Word Race Cube – A simple and fun way to practice quick word recognition.

 

Books That Boost Early Literacy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support our work at no additional cost to you.

The Importance of Vocabulary for Reading Comprehension

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When it comes to reading comprehension, vocabulary knowledge is essential. Without a strong vocabulary, readers may struggle to make sense of the texts they encounter. But why is vocabulary so important, and how can parents and educators help build it effectively?

Vocabulary: The Key to Unlocking Meaning

Family reading together Vocabulary is the foundation of understanding. When readers know the meanings of the words they encounter, they can better understand sentences, paragraphs, and entire texts. Without this knowledge, comprehension becomes much harder, and the joy of reading can fade.

Research shows that a rich vocabulary enhances both basic understanding and deeper comprehension. Readers use vocabulary to grasp the literal meaning of a text and to infer hidden messages. Both types of understanding depend on a reader’s knowledge of words.

Vocabulary, Mental Imagery, and Cognitive Development

Oasis image Vocabulary development plays a key role in cognitive growth. Each new word represents a concept or idea, and the more words a child learns, the better they understand the world. This expanded understanding helps them connect texts to their own experiences, deepening comprehension.

Mental imagery strengthens the connection between vocabulary and comprehension. Descriptive words help readers create pictures in their minds, making the text more engaging and easier to remember. For instance, phrases like “lush forest” or “towering skyscraper” trigger vivid mental images, enhancing understanding and creating a richer reading experience.

Building Vocabulary: Strategies for Success

Here are some practical strategies to support vocabulary development:

  1. Read Aloud Together: Reading aloud introduces children to new words in context. Choose books slightly above their independent reading level to help expand their vocabulary.
  2. Encourage Wide Reading: Provide access to a variety of materials, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and informational texts. Different genres introduce unique words and ideas.
  3. Teach Word-Learning Strategies: Show students how to figure out unfamiliar words by teaching prefixes, suffixes, root words, and context clues.
  4. Play Word Games: Games like Scrabble, Boggle, or vocabulary apps make learning fun and interactive. Example of a word game like a word scramble.
  5. Talk About Words: Discuss interesting or unusual words during conversations at home or in the classroom. This builds curiosity about language.
  6. Use Visual Imagery: Use visual imagery to create vivid mental images of vocabulary words. This taps into personal experience as well as visualization for better memory.
  7. Reinforce Through Writing: Encourage students to use new vocabulary in their writing. This strengthens understanding and helps solidify word meanings in memory.

Long-Term Benefits of a Strong Vocabulary

A strong vocabulary doesn’t just support reading comprehension—it’s a lifelong skill. From academic success to career readiness, vocabulary enables individuals to express themselves clearly, understand complex ideas, and engage with the world. It also enhances critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, which makes it a vital part of overall learning.

Final Thoughts

Building a strong vocabulary is an investment in a child’s success. By creating word-rich environments at home and in the classroom, parents and educators can empower young readers to thrive. Incorporating mental imagery techniques can make reading more vivid and memorable and turn every book into an adventure. The more words a child knows, the more opportunities they have—in books and in life.

 

If you or your child needs help with Reading Comprehension, we can help! Reach out to learn about our ReadingFish program for reading comprehension today!

The Building Blocks of Reading: Mastering the 44 English Phonemes image

The Building Blocks of Reading: Mastering the 44 English Phonemes

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The English language is built on 44 distinct sounds, or phonemes, that form the foundation of how we read and speak. While this may seem like a manageable number, the combinations of these sounds create endless possibilities for words. For emerging readers, the journey begins with identifying, articulating, and blending these sounds to form words.

From Sounds to Symbols: The Basics of Reading

Step 1: Recognizing and Naming Sounds

From a young age, children naturally begin to recognize and produce the sounds that make up spoken language. They then connect these sounds to labels, such as recognizing that the letter ‘a’ says the sound /a/, like in “apple.” This process, known as phonemic awareness, sets the stage for reading.

Student matching a with picture of an apple

Step 2: Linking Sounds to Symbols

The next challenge is associating each sound with a visual representation—a letter or group of letters. This process involves three essential components:

  • Phoneme: The distinct sound.
  • Grapheme: The written symbol (e.g., the letter ‘a’).
  • Letter Name: The spoken label for the grapheme.

This connection between sound, symbol, and label forms the foundation of reading and writing.

 

Adding Symbols to Sounds

 

The Complexity of English Sounds

Vowels and Consonants

  • Vowels: The five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) produce open, voiced sounds. For example, the sound /a/ in “cat” or /e/ in “meet.”
  • Consonants: The remaining letters (e.g., b, d, f) produce sounds by shaping or stopping airflow.

Together, these letters create the basis for English sounds, but additional techniques are needed to cover all 44 phonemes.

Digraphs and Letter Combinations

To represent extra sounds, letters are combined into digraphs where two letters identify and represent a new, distinct sound. Examples include:

  • Consonant Digraphs: th, sh, ch, wh, ng, th
  • Vowel Digraphs: oo (boot), ee (meet)

Short and Long Vowels

Each vowel has a short and long sound. For instance:

  • Short: /a/ as in “cat.”
  • Long: /ae/ as in “cake.”

While the short sounds are represented by just the letter, the long sounds often involve multiple spellings. Weigh and way use different letters to spell the same sound /ae/, this adds complexity for learners.

R-Controlled Vowels

When vowels pair with the letter “r,” they take on unique sounds:

  • /ar/ as in “car”
  • /er/ as in “her” or “girl” or “turn”
  • /or/ as in “porch”

Additional Sounds

English includes other sounds, such as:

  • /oo/ as in “moon”
  • /uu/ as in “foot”
  • /oi/ as in “boil” or “boy”
  • /au/ as in “haul” or “awe”
  • /ou/ as in “out” or “wow”

These varied phonemes—and their often unpredictable spellings—require extra attention from both learners and instructors.

 

44 Phonemes of English Chart

The Challenges of Sound-Symbol Association

For emerging readers, associating sounds with their corresponding symbols can be a hurdle. The same sound may have multiple spellings, and the same letter combination can produce different sounds. For example:

  • /th/ sounds different in “thin” versus “that.”

Additionally, individual learners face unique challenges. Some may struggle with auditory processing, making it difficult to distinguish sounds. Others may have trouble recalling letter names, shapes, or corresponding phonemes. These challenges highlight the importance of patience, creativity, and positive reinforcement in teaching.

 

Tips for Supporting Emerging Readers

  1. Be patient: Every learner progresses at their own pace.
  2. Use multi-sensory activities: Engage sight, sound, and touch to reinforce letter-sound connections.
  3. Celebrate progress: Positive feedback builds confidence and motivation.
  4. Practice consistently: Regular practice with fun and engaging activities solidifies learning.