A Structured Way to Help Kids Learn to Read: Why I Love Toe By Toe.

Toe by Toe is a structured, simple-to-use reading program designed for kids (and adults!) who need extra support learning to read. It’s especially helpful for learners with dyslexia, decoding difficulties, or working memory challenges. 

(If you’re just wanting to know the details about how Toe by Toe works, feel free to scroll down to the stars below. Or if you’d like to know why I recommend this resource so strongly, read on.)

The reason I’m recommending this today is because I know how frustrating and exhausting it is for kids (and their parents and teachers too!) when learning to read just isn’t clicking. 

And I know that when a child struggles with reading, it can have a huge ripple effect.

I believe that every child is beautifully and wonderfully unique - each with their own passions, strengths, and way of learning. 

But when a child starts to fall behind in reading, and everyone else around them seems to be picking it up easily, it’s heartbreaking how quickly their confidence in so many areas of life can start to fade.

At that point, it’s not just about reading anymore - it starts to affect how they see themselves.

I was chatting with a teacher who came into Brain Spice a couple of years ago. She was picking up some games to help her students learn through play.

We ended up talking about this exact topic - how so many kids are incredible, but when learning feels too hard, they sometimes stop trying - not because they don’t care, but because pretending not to care often feels safer to them than admitting they’re struggling.

They prefer to be seen as the ‘naughty kid’ than to be seen as “the kid who can’t keep up”.

And once that pattern starts, it can follow them into adulthood - because somewhere along the way, they stop believing in themselves.

This breaks my heart. 

Because kids who find reading difficult are NOT lazy or “bad at learning.” Their brains just work differently. 

And having a brain that works differently can be a fantastic thing! 

These kids are often the ones who go on to become incredible creators, builders, artists, engineers, animal rescuers - you name it. 

They’re amazing, they’re interesting, and they’re incredibly clever. 

They’re some of my favourite people!

And often, their resilience and problem-solving skills are much stronger than kids who’ve never had to face academic challenges.

Because they’ve had to work through difficult things - and they’ve experienced what it feels like to succeed after struggling - they develop something powerful: a growth mindset.

(A growth mindset is the belief that abilities can improve over time with effort, learning, and persistence. A fixed mindset is when people believe their abilities are unchangeable.)

These kids grow up knowing that it’s okay to need multiple attempts at something - and that trying again doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

They learn not to give up. And that’s a huge benefit, not just for learning, but for life.

These kids often go on to do incredible things.

The key is helping them hold onto their confidence along the way.

The first step when they are struggling with reading is for them to understand that they CAN learn to read fluently. 

Sometimes all they need is a different approach.

That’s where Toe by Toe comes in. 

It’s one of those resources I’m so glad exists. It was recommended to me by a wonderful tutor, and I’ve seen first-hand just how much it can help when a child needs extra support with reading.

Normally, I’m all about adding fun, colour, and inspiration to our homeschool days. But when kids are struggling with reading - especially if there’s dyslexia or working memory challenges involved - sometimes all those extra distractions are just too much.

Toe by Toe strips it back to the basics.

It’s calm, consistent, and structured. And that’s why it works.

It only takes 10-20 minutes a day, and you don’t need any special training to use it. 

Each page tells you exactly what to say and do - literally just open and go. It’s simple for parents, tutors, or teachers.

Another thing I love about Toe by Toe is that it uses nonsense words for practice. It might sound unusual at first, but it’s brilliant - kids can’t just guess from memory or context. They have to stop, think, and actually decode. That’s where real reading fluency starts to build.

Progress is tracked gently:

✅ If your child reads a word correctly, it gets a tick.

✅ If it’s incorrect, it gets a dot.

✅ Once a word is read correctly for three consecutive days, it’s considered mastered. (If they make a mistake, no problem - they just start the three-day cycle again. No rush, no pressure.)

And because the sessions are just 10-20 minutes a day, kids can stop before their brains get too tired or frustrated. 

It’s short, achievable practice that fits into everyday life - without overwhelm.

There are also extra practice activities every 20 pages to help with the trickier words that “break the rules.”

Who can Toe by Toe help?

✔ Children with reading difficulties

✔ Children who are behind reading age

✔ Children on the autistic spectrum

✔ Children with dyslexia or dyslexic difficulties

✔ Children & adults learning English as a second language

✔ Parents who want to give their child reading confidence

✔ Parents who are home educating

✔ Schools looking for a literacy intervention program

If you’ve got a child who needs that extra support, I’d definitely recommend giving this one a go.

Available to purchase from Brain Spice here.

At the end of the day, when kids are supported to:

⭐ Follow their passions

⭐Learn in a way that works for them

⭐ Feel confident in who they are

⭐ And truly understand that everyone has different strengths

…that’s when they really shine.  ⭐

Happy reading! 

- Janelle