4 Ways To Supplement An Online Reading Program
A typical day in our homeschool almost always involved a lesson or two online.
Why?
Because my youngest son struggled with reading. He is profoundly dyslexic, and his learning differences affected nearly every aspect of learning to read proficiently.
We tried a lot of different approaches over the years. Some worked better than others. Some worked for a little while and then stopped working altogether.
But one thing became clear pretty early on: He needed consistent reading practice, and I needed to find ways to make that practice feel less like a daily battle.
Online reading programs became an important part of our homeschool.
They offered visual and auditory support, interactive activities, and opportunities to practice reading skills in a way that felt more like playing a game than completing another lesson.
And for a child who found reading incredibly difficult, that mattered.
Online learning really was a game changer for us.
But as much as I appreciated what an online reading program could offer, I also knew I wanted my son to practice those same skills away from the computer.
Not with more worksheets or longer lessons.
Just simple, everyday opportunities to use what he was learning.
Over time, I found four ways to supplement our online reading program that worked particularly well for him.
And the best part? None required an elaborate lesson plan or hours of preparation.
Why Supplement an Online Reading Program?
Online reading programs can be a helpful part of teaching a child to read, especially when they provide structured instruction, opportunities for repetition, and immediate feedback.
But learning a skill during an online lesson and using that same skill independently aren’t always the same thing.
I saw this firsthand with my son.
He might successfully complete an entire reading lesson online, only to struggle with the same words when we encountered them in a book later that afternoon.
It didn’t mean he hadn’t learned anything.
It meant he needed more opportunities to practice.
For my son, the most helpful approach was combining his online reading lessons with simple, hands-on activities and everyday reading experiences.
The goal wasn’t to add more reading work. It was to help him use what he was already learning.
And, perhaps most importantly, to help him recognize his own progress.
He loved showing me what he could do. Yes, he appreciated my encouragement, but what mattered even more was that he was beginning to see himself as someone who could learn to read.
For a child who had struggled for so long, that was a big deal.
4 Ways to Supplement an Online Reading Program
1. Ask Your Child to Teach You What They Learned
One of the easiest ways I found to reinforce my son’s online reading lessons was to ask him to teach me something afterward.
Sometimes, he would enthusiastically tell me all about the lesson, including how many eggs he’d earned and which games he’d played.
Other times, he’d grab our giant sketch pad and show me a letter pattern or word he’d been practicing.
I didn’t need a formal review or a quiz.
I just wanted him to have an opportunity to explain what he’d learned in his own way.
You can try this with your child by asking simple questions:
- Can you show me something you learned today?
- What was the easiest part of your lesson?
- Was there a word or sound you practiced?
- Can you teach me how to read one of your new words?
Sometimes, your child may not remember much. That’s okay, too.
You can revisit a small part of the lesson together without turning it into another assignment.
For us, these little conversations were a way to celebrate progress and discover which skills needed additional practice.
2. Make Time for Screen-Free Reading Practice
In our homeschool, Fridays were different.
We called them Friday FunDays, and they were dedicated to hands-on learning, projects, and activities that didn’t look quite like our regular schoolwork.
That also meant no online reading lessons.
At first, taking a break from the program might seem counterproductive, especially when you have a child who needs consistent reading practice.
But a screen-free day doesn’t have to mean a day without reading.
Instead, we looked for natural opportunities to practice the skills my son had been working on throughout the week.
We might read a favorite book together, look for familiar words on packages while making lunch, or play a simple word game.
Sometimes, he would point out something he’d learned without any prompting from me.
Those moments were my favorite.
Because suddenly, reading wasn’t just something he did during a lesson.
It was something he could use in everyday life.
And sometimes, taking Friday off from the computer meant he was even more excited to get back to his reading game on Monday.
3. Use Hands-On Reading Activities
If you’ve spent any time around Different By Design Learning, you know that hands-on activities have always been a big part of our homeschool.
My son learned best when he could interact with what we were studying, and reading was no exception.
One of our favorite activities was using chalk markers to practice words on the windows.
There was something about writing on glass that made practicing spelling patterns a lot more appealing than writing the exact same words on a piece of paper.
Other times, we would read aloud together and look for examples of the phonics patterns he’d been learning.
The activities didn’t have to be complicated.
Simple hands-on reading activities for struggling readers might include:
- Build words with letter tiles. Practice the letter-sound patterns your child is learning in their online lessons.
- Write words in unexpected places. Try a window, a whiteboard, or a tray of sand.
- Go on a word hunt. Look for familiar spelling patterns in books, recipes, signs, or packaging.
- Play word-building games. Change one letter at a time to create new words and practice blending the sounds.
- Read together. Take turns reading words or sentences that match your child’s current reading ability.
For children with dyslexia, these activities can provide additional opportunities to practice skills that have already been explicitly taught.
They aren’t a replacement for systematic reading instruction, but they can make repetition more engaging.
And when you’re homeschooling a child who finds reading exhausting, finding ways to make practice enjoyable is worth the effort.
4. Choose Workbooks That Actually Work for Your Child
I know. Workbooks.
If your child struggles with reading, you may already be thinking that this is a terrible idea.
I certainly would have.
My son resisted workbooks of almost every kind, especially anything involving reading or language arts.
But when we started using the Reading Eggs workbooks alongside his online lessons, I was surprised by his response.
He actually liked them.
Part of the appeal was that the activities corresponded with what he was already learning online. He recognized the skills and felt more confident practicing them.
He also appreciated that the pages didn’t feel babyish.
That was especially important for a child whose reading skills were behind his age and interests.
But I think the biggest factor was how manageable the work felt.
He could complete a page in about ten minutes or less.
No overwhelming assignment. No endless pages of reading practice.
Just a small opportunity to reinforce what he’d learned and experience a little success.
If you’re considering workbooks to supplement an online reading program, I recommend looking for materials that:
- Reinforce the specific phonics and reading skills your child is learning.
- Are appropriate for your child’s skill level without feeling too young for their age.
- Offer short, manageable activities.
- Allow your child to experience success without excessive frustration.
You don’t necessarily need workbooks from the same company as your online reading program.
What matters is finding practice materials that support the instruction your child is receiving and fit the way your child learns.
What About Reading Practice for Kids With Dyslexia?
I want to make an important distinction here.
An online reading program can be a valuable learning tool, but not every online reading program provides the kind of instruction a child with dyslexia needs.
Many children with dyslexia benefit from explicit, systematic instruction in phonemic awareness, phonics, decoding, and other foundational reading skills.
Depending on the child, this may include specialized structured literacy instruction and individualized support.
In our homeschool, online learning was one piece of a much larger approach.
It helped my son practice, stay engaged, and build confidence.
But it wasn’t the only thing we did.
The hands-on activities, conversations, read-alouds, and workbook pages were ways to reinforce skills, not substitutes for teaching those skills in the first place.
I think that’s an important distinction for any parent trying to help a struggling reader.
You don’t have to choose between structured reading instruction and a homeschool that feels encouraging, flexible, and connected to real life.
You can have both.
How Much Extra Reading Practice Does a Struggling Reader Need?
This is one of those questions where I wish there were a simple answer.
But after years of homeschooling a child with significant learning differences, I can tell you that the right amount of practice depends on the child.
Some days, my son could complete his online lesson and happily spend another ten minutes working with words.
Other days, the lesson itself took everything he had.
And on those days, more wasn’t necessarily better.
I learned to pay attention to his frustration level, his energy, and whether the extra practice was helping him feel successful or simply making reading something he dreaded.
Consistency mattered, but so did our relationship.
So did his confidence.
So did the fact that he was working incredibly hard to learn something that came much more easily to other children.
When deciding how much reading practice to add, I would start small, coordinate with any reading specialist working with your child, and focus on the specific skills your child needs to reinforce.
You can always add more as your child becomes ready.
Frequently Asked Questions About Supplementing Online Reading Programs
Can online reading programs help struggling readers?
Online reading programs can provide useful opportunities for practice and reinforcement. Their effectiveness depends on the quality of instruction, the skills being taught, and the individual child’s needs. Children with significant reading difficulties may need additional explicit, systematic instruction.
What are some screen-free reading activities for kids?
Word-building games, letter tiles, phonics pattern hunts, shared reading, and writing words on whiteboards are simple ways to practice reading skills without a computer.
Should I use workbooks with an online reading program?
Workbooks can be helpful when they reinforce skills your child has already learned and provide practice at an appropriate level. Short, focused activities are often easier to incorporate into a homeschool routine than lengthy assignments.
How can I help my dyslexic child practice reading at home?
Start with the skills your child is currently learning through their reading instruction. Use short, structured practice activities, read aloud together, and offer opportunities for success. A qualified reading specialist can help determine which skills and instructional approaches are most appropriate for your child.
Finding What Works for Your Struggling Reader
If there’s one thing I learned from homeschooling a child with profound dyslexia, it’s that progress doesn’t always look the way we expect.
Sometimes, it’s finishing an online reading lesson without frustration.
Sometimes, it’s recognizing a word on a cereal box.
Sometimes, it’s a child who has spent years struggling with reading suddenly grabbing a sketch pad because he wants to show you something he learned.
Those little moments matter.
They may not look like much from the outside, but when you’re parenting a struggling reader, you know exactly how significant they can be.
An online reading program can be a wonderful resource. But it doesn’t have to carry the entire responsibility for helping your child learn to read.
A few simple, hands-on activities can help connect those online lessons to the rest of your child’s world.
And sometimes, the most important thing we’re reinforcing isn’t just a reading skill.
It’s our child’s belief that learning is possible.
One small success at a time.
Original disclosure: This article was originally written in partnership with Reading Eggs. I received workbooks and compensation for the original post. The experiences and opinions shared are my own.
This article reflects our family’s experience and is not intended to replace individualized reading instruction or professional guidance.
