In this video I’m sharing what it actually looked like to teach my kids to read—when we started, how I could tell they were ready, and the phonics and reading resources that helped us the most. I walk through the general progression I used and the kinds of “green light” signs I watched for before pushing formal lessons. Reading is one of those areas where it’s so tempting to compare, but I’ve learned to pay attention to the child in front of me and keep things simple and consistent. I also talk through the specific curriculum and tools I used along the way, including ABC See Hear Do Learn to Read, The Good and the Beautiful Reading Booster A cards and books, and The Ordinary Parent’s Guide to Teaching Reading. If you’re trying to decide what to use (or you’ve tried something that didn’t click), my goal is to give you an honest, practical overview so you can choose a starting point and move forward with confidence—without overcomplicating phonics or making reading feel heavy.