How to Teach Students to Read English: Step-by-Step Tips

Teaching a student to read English can feel overwhelming, especially when the student is also learning English as a new language. Where do you begin—letters, phonics, sight words, vocabulary, or reading actual sentences?

The answer is that students need these skills to work together.

If you’re wondering how to teach students to read English, begin with foundational reading skills while also helping students understand the meaning of the words they’re learning to read.

At Reading Patch, we combine letter sounds and phonics with high-frequency words, vocabulary, meaningful reading, and lots of practice. This helps students develop the skills to decode unfamiliar words while also building confidence and understanding what they read.

And if you’d like help teaching the lessons, our complete Reading Patch Learn to Read Program is FREE.

How to teach students to read English.

You’ll Need to Teach the Alphabet

The first step in teaching students to read English is to teach the alphabet. Every person that is learning how to read in English, will need to know the English alphabet. It’s also important that each person that learns the English alphabet, also knows how to sound out each letter. 

Teaching Phonics

As I mentioned earlier, sounds is another part of teaching someone to read in English. Phonics are the sounds incorporated in the English language. The person learning to read will need to know every sound in the alphabet. This includes the short vowel sounds, the long vowel sounds, diapgraphs, and blends. 

Teach the Simple Words First

Almost everyone that is learning to read in English will learn simple words first. Words like hat, cat, bat. These words help kids figure out how to sound out words to learn how to read. This will be a little difficult at first, but after a time, the words do get easier and easier. After the simple words are learned, you can start building on with harder and harder words. 

Teach Vocabulary Alongside Reading

When a student is learning to read English, decoding a word is only part of the job. The student also needs to know what that word means.

For example, a student may successfully sound out the word ship but have no idea what a ship is.

Take time to talk about new words as they appear. Use pictures, objects, gestures, examples, and simple explanations to make the meaning clear.

Then use the new word in conversation and in different sentences.

This helps connect three important pieces:

the sounds in the word → the written word → the meaning

As students develop stronger English vocabulary, reading comprehension can grow along with their decoding skills.

Sight Words to the Rescue

One of the last ways to teach students how to read is by giving sight words to your pupil. Sight words are one of the most important parts of learning how to read. You’ll start your student off with basic sight words and they will work their way up. 

Read to the Students

Last, but not least, one of the best ways you can teach students to read English is through reading to the students. Pick out some good classic books and spend time reading. Did you know that reading to students is one of the best things you can do to help them learn to read?

Try Our Free Learn to Read Program

If you’re teaching a student to read English and would like structured lessons to follow, the Reading Patch Learn to Read Program is completely FREE.

The program was developed by Mrs. Karle, a master first-grade reading teacher with more than 30 years of classroom experience helping beginning and struggling readers.

Students work step-by-step on:

  • Letters and letter sounds
  • High-frequency words
  • Phonics and decoding
  • Blending and word building
  • Word ladders
  • Vocabulary
  • Reading fluency
  • Comprehension
  • Printable reading practice

Because the lessons are presented on video, students can watch Mrs. Karle model the lesson, pause when needed, repeat instruction, and practice at their own pace.

The program can be used by parents, classroom teachers, tutors, homeschool families, and educators working with English learners who need foundational English reading practice.

→ START THE COMPLETE LEARN TO READ PROGRAM FREE