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Beginner Program

Where real reading begins

The Beginner app takes a child who can blend sounds and turns them into a real reader — carefully, one new sound at a time, with no guessing and no memorized word lists.

Each daily lesson takes about 15 – 20 minutes. Your child learns one new sound or pattern, reads words and sentences built only from what they’ve already been taught, and records themselves reading. Because every word is decodable, your child succeeds on day one — and success is what builds readers.

Along the way, they read their first real stories: ongoing storybook adventures told one piece at a time, so every few lessons unlocks the next part. Kids genuinely look forward to finding out what happens next — which means they look forward to reading.

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Who it's for

Children who know their letter sounds and can blend simple words (if they’re not there yet, start with Letters or Foundational — the subscription includes everything). Typical age 4–6, but the method works at any age.

5 Cute little children reading books - Smart Steps Reading

You’ll love this program because...

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About Smart Steps

Embark on a learning adventure with our programs: Letters, Foundational, Intermediate, and Advanced. Purchase any program and gain free access to the complete suite for a holistic educational experience! Use the program that best fits the needs of your child. If you purchase the foundational program, but find they need a program more advanced, then move up to the intermediate. If you purchase the accelerated, but find they are struggling, they can move down as well. Also, if there are multiple children needing different programs, you have access to the full suite!