Little Stories for Little Folks is a two-year, Catholic, phonics-based reading program designed to be started in kindergarten and completed in first grade. Beginning with colorful flashcards printed on stiff cardstock and active games for alphabet letter and sound recognition, the program progresses to pre-reading exercises which teach the student to blend sounds into words. The child then begins reading the 45 colorfully illustrated stories about other homeschool families! Each story is printed on 8½"×11" sheets to be folded into little booklets, which give the child the satisfaction of finishing a “whole book.” Booklets are illustrated mini-stories containing words from new phonics concepts, as well as words learned in previous lessons, to provide maximum word exposure (nearly 7,000 words!).
Every lesson is immediately preceded by a parent instruction page which shows in simple steps how to present the reading exercises, worksheets, and stories. All of these are organized and contained under one cover, making presentation of lessons super-simple. By the time the child completes Little Stories for Little Folks in first grade, he will be reading at a second- to third-grade level.
Tear-off pad, shrink-wrapped. Sixth edition. Full color! 302 pgs. 8½"×11"
A complete, two-year program for one low price!
From the author: "Teaching word families is probably the most gratifying way for a child to quickly discover that there are patterns to words and that they can read a LOT of words even when they are just beginning. Nothing breeds success like success! Drill, with the exception of flashcards in the pre-reading stage, can seem so pointless and dry to the child that it is almost self-defeating. They want to READ! The best way to practice sounds is within words within sentences within interesting, short stories!"
See also Little Stories for Little Folks’ companion workbooks: Catholic Heritage Handwriting, Level K and Level 1. These workbooks provide story-by-story phonics practice as primary students copy and reinforce letter combinations and words that they have just read in Little Stories for Little Folks. Children master reading skills even more rapidly when using these companion workbooks.
Higher level reading practice is presented through engaging, character-building stories in What Do You Like to Do..., What Can You Do..., Bigger Stories for Little Folks, Devotional Stories for Little Folks, and Devotional Stories for Little Folks, Too.
Recommended core text in CHC Lesson Plans for Kindergarten and First Grade.
Take a tour of the Kindergarten and First Grade materials here.