After weeks of hard work, I’m thrilled to announce that the phonogram courses at Phonogram University are finally complete! This has been a true labor of love, and I’m so excited to share these resources with parents who want to teach their children to read.
For years, I dreamed of hosting these courses on my own website, and now that dream has become a reality. It wasn’t easy figuring out how to make it all work, but I’m so glad I stuck with it.
A New Approach to Teaching Phonograms
As I neared completion, I made a promise to myself: I would promote these courses aggressively once they were done. Yesterday, I sent out a few emails, and I’m happy to share that two people have already signed up for Phonograms Fundamentals 101!
One parent is preparing for when her child is old enough to start learning to read, and the other has a child who’s ready to dive in now. I can’t wait to see how they progress through the material!
In the past, I created a couple of phonogram courses, but they were structured differently. About 15 years ago, I made a course on CD that covered all 70 phonograms. Later, I created a course on Udemy.com that also covered all 70 phonograms in 18 lessons. While these courses were comprehensive, they were also overwhelming for many parents.
This time, I’ve taken a new approach by breaking the 70 phonograms into three smaller, more manageable courses. Here’s how they’re structured:
The Three Courses
Course 1: Phonograms Fundamentals 101
- Seven lessons
- Covers the 26 alphabet phonograms
- Introduces many spelling rules
- Includes most of the resources I share
- Features videos of a young reader I tutored
Course 2: Phonograms Fundamentals 102
- Seven lessons
- Covers 28 phonograms
- Introduces a few new spelling rules
- Focuses primarily on the phonograms and their sounds
Course 3: Phonograms Fundamentals 103
- Four lessons
- Covers the remaining 12 phonograms
- Focuses on adding these last phonograms and mastering their sounds
I truly believe that breaking the material into three courses makes it much more approachable for parents. Instead of feeling overwhelmed, they can focus on one step at a time, building confidence as they go.
Why Are These Courses Free?
You might be wondering why I’m offering these courses for free. The answer is simple: I have a job, and I don’t need the money right now. (Though, let’s be honest, I wouldn’t turn it down!)
The real reason is that I want to help parents help their children. In America, far too many students struggle with reading, and I believe parents can make a huge difference—if they have the right tools and knowledge. These courses are designed to provide exactly that.
Offering the courses for free also allows me to gather feedback and improve them over time. When I retire, I may charge for the courses, but for now, I’m focused on making them as effective and accessible as possible.
Join the Reading Revolution
If you’re a parent, educator, or someone who wants to help children succeed in reading, I encourage you to check out the courses on the Courses page. They’re completely free, and I’m here to support you on your reading journey.
And if you know someone who might benefit from these courses, please share them! Together, we can make a difference in improving literacy and giving children the tools they need to succeed.
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. It makes me so happy to know that these courses can help parents teach their children to read successfully.
