A quick diagnostic + free resources from OpenEd

The 3-Question Check

Watch your child read something new (not memorized). Then answer:

• Can they sound out unfamiliar words? Or do they guess based on pictures/first letters?
• Can they blend sounds smoothly? Or do they say sounds separately without connecting them?
• Can they rhyme easily? Inability to rhyme is one of the most reliable early indicators of reading difficulty.

If any answer is "no" - keep reading.

<aside> ⚠️ The 4th Grade Cliff: By 4th grade, school shifts from "learning to read" to "reading to learn." Kids who struggle past this point fall behind in every subject - because everything assumes reading fluency. 66% of American 4th graders read below proficiency. 70% of those never catch up without intervention.

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Your Next Step: Get a Real Assessment

Savvy Learning offers a free 15-minute reading assessment that tells you exactly where your child stands - not guesswork, actual data.

If you need help, Savvy provides high-dosage tutoring: 25-minute sessions, 4x per week. Research shows this approach is up to 20x more effective than traditional hour-long tutoring.

OpenEd families get access to Savvy at no cost. More on that below.

Free Tools to Try Today

• Read Not Guess - Free, 5-10 min daily lessons. Tests if your child is decoding or guessing.
• Reading Eggs - Gamified phonics for ages 2-13.
• Learning Ally - 80,000+ audiobooks for students with reading barriers.