The Hooked on Phonics curriculum is divided into two sections: Pre-reader, which introduces the alphabet and each letter sound, and Learn to Read, which blends the letters and their sounds to read words.
Pre-Reader: Your child is learning to recognize letters and the sounds they make
Kindergarten: Your child has mastered the letter names AND sounds and is ready to start putting them together to read 1-syllable words; such as cat, lid, and bug
1st grade: Your child can read short vowel words such as those noted above, and is ready for more challenging words with blends and digraphs; such as flat, drip, shell, and chess
2nd grade: Your child can read words such as those noted above, and is ready for more challenging words with ending consonant blends, such as bank; inflectional endings, such as singing and kicked; and long vowels and diphthongs, such as plane, paint, and point
If you're not sure if your child has mastered lower and uppercase letters AND their associated sounds, start with Pre-Reader/Pre-K. If your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grader has mastered the alphabet but they're struggling with blends, we recommend starting with Learn to Read - Kindergarten. Your child will have a chance to practice skills they've mastered, fill in any gaps, and build their confidence along the way. If needed, you may adjust your child's level in the App at any time, and manage the package level via the Dashboard, as well.
The chart below may serve as a useful guideline when determining where to start, though we recommend basing your decision on the skill descriptions (detailed above), rather than the grade levels themselves:
If you've already ordered and believe you've chosen the wrong level, please reach out to the Customer Care Team via the messaging icon below. We will assist you with adjusting your order or subscription ASAP.
Need help adjusting the level your child is working on in the App? Go here: