Welcome! Thank you for visiting Reading Elephant LLC.
Do you have a struggling K-2 reader? If so, this site was made for you.
Reading Elephant LLC offers K-2 printable phonics books that help kids learn to read. There are over 70 stories in our shop, each one methodically written to introduce one phonics sound at a time.
Our easy-to-use book series can help k-2 students learn to read.
Our books allow kids to gradually improve their decoding skills. Each story adds a new building block so kids can incrementally build their phonics knowledge. This allows kids to learn to read with success and confidence.
How were Reading Elephant LLC books written?
The books were written slowly over time as I worked with kids who weren’t learning to read in the school system.
I worked as a K-3 Reading Interventionist and catapulted many struggling readers, including students with dyslexia, ADHD, autism, auditory-processing disorders and language delays, into the next reading level with efficiency, quickness and lasting success.
After working with many struggling readers, I learned there are not enough accessible systematic phonics books. I struggled to find leveled materials for my students. Many parents also lamented that they could not find appropriate learn to read books for their child.
Thus, I decided to write my own. Starting in 2017, I offered my printable phonics books online and the platform grew. Customers began asking for more and more and the books built up to a substantial, thorough series.
Reading Elephant LLC printable phonics books are designed so all kids can learn how to read, including kids with unique learning challenges. You can find our books in our shop.
My reading intervention clinic is located in the greater San Diego area. My students still inspire me to offer valuable materials to a broader audience on the Reading Elephant LLC platform.
My students often come to me years below grade-level. I’ve worked with first graders that don’t know letter sounds, second graders that can only read books they’ve memorized, and 4th graders at the Kindergarten reading level. Most of my students have IEPs and have been diagnosed with a learning disability. I’ve used my printable decodable books to help these kids learn to read.
Through these experiences, the lesson has been clear: without research-based instruction, many kids won’t learn how to read. Many children need direct, systematic phonics instruction with interleaving.
I stay up-to-date on reading research and study the history, cognitive science, and psychology of reading instruction. I learned best practices from John Shefelbine, a dyslexia professor and K-3 reading curriculum designer for struggling and dyslexic readers. Consequently, I implement reading interventions with only the best research-based methods.
I have my BA, MA and a Reading Certificate.
Thanks again for visiting Reading Elephant LLC!
FAQs
How did I get started?
One of my students, Kayla had acquired dyslexia; Kayla was in a severe car accident and completely lost her ability to read. In addition, she lost her ability to articulate certain sounds. Kayla had been in an intervention program for years with little success. After working one semester with Kayla, her reading improved dramatically and she was finally able to read books independently. I was thrilled to see how powerful research-based reading instruction can be, and I decided I would focus on helping struggling readers.
Another student, James, a second grader, had dyslexia. He said aloud, “I can’t read. I just pretend to.” In the beginning, James would not engage. He shut down. After just a few lessons, James began reading simple cvc words like “cap, bin, let.” I began creating phonics books at his level. After he read a book, his eyes glittered with pride, he felt confident, and he was excited to continue the program.
Another student, Matthew, a second grader, had a severe language delay. He struggled to string 2-3 words together to form a sentence. He had an IEP and had received numerous interventions at school, none of which helped him learn to read. His parents were skeptical that anyone could help. Matthew was convinced he was dumb. After a few lessons, Matthew began blending sounds together to read words. He started reading my phonics books and he progressed through each level at a good pace. I’ll never forget the day he brought a toy magazine to our session and showed me all the toy descriptions he could read.
Why does Reading Elephant offer printable phonics books?
After I started a reading clinic, I was dumbfounded by how few resources are available to educators and parents with struggling readers. I had trouble accessing quality reading materials for my students. To help my students, I began designing systematic printable decodable books. I made them leveled, easy-to-use, thorough and systematic. As a result, clients loved them and began asking for more and more…until a whole series was made.
Can reading difficulties cause behavior problems?
Children who are below grade-level in reading typically struggle with the following seemingly periphery issues: low self-esteem, aggression, trouble focusing and overall behavioral issues. Can these issues be brought on by reading struggles? Absolutely. Many children “act out” because they believe they cannot succeed in school. If a student is having reading difficulties, he might be bored in class because he cannot do the work (since he cannot read well). If a student comes home from school crying, avoids reading homework, and says startling things like, “I can’t read. I guess I’m stupid,” they are crying out for help.
How can Reading Elephant LLC books help?
Our phonics books are printable. You can download them onto your computer easily (because they’re assembled in folders) and work your way through the series at your student’s pace.
Our books are also more thorough than other phonics books. Reading Elephant LLC has a short vowel, consonant digraph, consonant blends, silent e, long vowels, oo/ew, and r-controlled series.
As you walk your student through the books, you can watch your student practice and master essential decoding skills.