The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading (OPG) is a scripted, systematic phonics curriculum by Jessie Wise and Sara Buffington that teaches children to read through 231 lessons covering all 72 phonograms.
What is The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading?
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading is a comprehensive phonics-based reading program published by Well-Trained Mind Press. Authors Jessie Wise and Sara Buffington designed it for parents without teaching backgrounds—you don't need to understand phonics rules yourself because the scripted lessons tell you exactly what to say. The program covers everything from basic letter sounds through multi-syllable words, homonyms, and complex phonics patterns in 231 sequential lessons. Education expert John Taylor Gatto called it "the best book on teaching reading I've ever seen."
Key Takeaways
- 231 scripted lessons covering all 72 phonograms systematically
- Completely secular—no religious content
- Suitable for ages 4-5 through struggling older readers
- Takes 1-3 years depending on pace and starting age
- Daily lessons run 5-10 minutes initially, expanding to 15-30 minutes
Teaching Methodology
OPG uses explicit, systematic phonics instruction. Children learn letter sounds one at a time with built-in review before moving to blending and reading words. The curriculum intentionally excludes pictures so children learn to decode based on letter-sound relationships rather than guessing from context. A "two review, one new" technique reinforces previously learned material while introducing new concepts. Helpful memory aids—like rhymes for vowels and consonants—support retention. The progression moves from short vowels through consonant blends, digraphs, long vowels, silent letters, multi-syllable words, and eventually suffixes, prefixes, and homophones.
Editions and Format
What Parents Love
The comprehensive scripting means you don't need phonics expertise—just read what's written and your child learns to read. Everything needed fits in one program, from absolute beginner through approximately fourth-grade reading level. The price is reasonable compared to many reading curricula. Because it's skill-based rather than grade-based, older children who struggle with reading can use it without embarrassment. The consistent, no-frills approach builds real decoding ability. Many parents appreciate that it's secular, focusing purely on reading instruction without faith-based content.
Considerations and Challenges
The repetitive lesson format—which provides helpful consistency—can feel monotonous after dozens of lessons. Some parents find the presentation "dry" compared to more colorful, game-based programs. The original edition's small, busy pages made it harder to follow (the revised edition addresses this). Parents must independently judge when to pause for mastery or move on; the curriculum doesn't signal this automatically. Children who need visual engagement or variety might struggle with the text-heavy approach. Transitioning from another reading program mid-stream can be tricky since OPG builds sequentially.
OPG vs. Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons
The Bottom Line
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading delivers exactly what it promises: a complete, systematic method for teaching your child to read without requiring you to understand phonics yourself. The scripted lessons remove guesswork while building genuine decoding skills. It's thorough rather than quick—expect to spend one to three years completing the program. For families wanting a secular, affordable, proven approach to reading instruction, OPG has earned its reputation. Consider the revised edition for better formatting, and pair it with simple readers like Bob Books for additional practice.
