READERS IN RHYME

Experience the charm of Readers in Rhyme. Designed for grades K-3, this Language Arts curriculum features 80 phonics readers that are beautifully illustrated with restored vintage artwork. Each reader features color coded phonograms and engaging stories written in rhyme, making reading enjoyable and memorable. With scripted lessons, a multisensory approach, and phonemic awareness exercises, this comprehensive program guarantees success in reading and beyond. Give your students the gift of reading success with Readers in Rhyme.

Scope & Sequence

Readers In Rhyme: Classical Education Made Simple

At Classical School Solutions, we understand the challenges educators face in balancing preparation time with delivering effective lessons. That's why we designed Readers In Rhyme and their accompanying printable resources to offer ready-to-use lessons that are rooted in the science of reading.

Based on decades of research, the science of reading is not a specific program or method, but an approach to teaching reading that encompasses five foundational concepts that are essential in helping children become successful readers. These foundational pillars are:

Phonemic Awareness - The ability to identify and play with individual sounds in spoken words.
Phonics - Reading instruction on understanding how letters and groups of letters link to sounds to form letter- sound relationships and spelling patterns.
Fluency - The ability to read words, phrases, sentences, and stories correctly, with enough speed, and expression.
Vocabulary - Knowing what words mean and how to say and use them correctly.
Comprehension - The ability to understand what you are reading.

Our resources are designed to support teachers who are using Readers in Rhyme and can be a helpful addition to your curriculum or used independently. Each level builds upon previously acquired skills and covers handwriting, grammar, phonics practice, poetry, copywork and read aloud suggestions for the class. Our goal is to be your partner in the classroom, allowing you to focus on what you do best – teaching.

*National Center on Improving Literacy (2022). The Science of Reading: The Basics. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, Office of Special Education Programs, National Center on Improving Literacy.

Readers in Rhyme Samples

Level KA

Level KA Language Arts

Level KA Goldenrod Readers 1-10

Our Readers in Rhyme Level KA ELA curriculum takes a holistic approach to early literacy, emphasizing not only phonics instruction but also essential pre-reading and reading skills such as auditory exercises, phonemic awareness activities, handwriting, and narration. This comprehensive curriculum includes scripted lessons, classic nursery rhymes, and engaging activities designed to keep young learners excited about reading.

With Readers in Rhyme Level KA, your student will gain a strong foundation in phonics, mastering all the sounds of the first 26 phonograms (the alphabet) and short vowel sounds. The program provides a structured yet enjoyable learning experience that helps children become confident, fluent readers.

To complement this core curriculum, our Goldenrod Readers (Books 1-10) offer carefully sequenced phonics-based reading practice, reinforcing CVC words and early decoding skills. These beautifully illustrated, rhyming stories introduce and systematically build on short vowel sounds, making them an ideal companion to our program. They provide additional fluency support and can be used as a stand-alone phonics reader set or alongside other phonics curricula.

Level KB

Level KB Language Arts

Level KB Apricot Readers 11-20

As students progress, our Readers in Rhyme Level KB ELA curriculum continues this holistic literacy approach, ensuring children build on the foundational skills established in Level KA. In addition to reinforcing the first 26 phonograms and short vowels, Level KB introduces new phonograms, including EE, TH, SH, AR, and CK. The program maintains a strong focus on auditory exercises, phonemic awareness, handwriting, and narration, helping students develop fluency and confidence in reading.

To support this next stage of literacy, our Apricot Readers (Books 11-20) are designed to complement the Level KB curriculum by providing decodable stories that reinforce previously learned phonics concepts while introducing beginning and ending blends. These readers give students structured, engaging practice, ensuring a smooth transition to more advanced reading skills. While the Apricot Readers are an essential part of the Readers in Rhyme Level KB curriculum, they are also a valuable resource for any phonics-based reading program.

Level 1

Language Arts Level 1

Level 1 Teal Readers 21-30

Level 1 Olive Readers 31-40

Our Readers in Rhyme Level 1 ELA curriculum builds on the strong phonics foundation established in Levels KA and KB, continuing to develop essential reading skills through phonics instruction, reading practice, handwriting, and narration. This comprehensive curriculum includes scripted lessons, nursery rhymes, picture study, and engaging activities designed to foster a love of reading while strengthening decoding skills and fluency.

In Level 1, students review key concepts from Levels KA and KB while expanding their phonics knowledge by introducing new phonograms, including OR, OO, WH, ER, IR, UR, WOR, EAR, OW, OU, OA, and OE. The curriculum reinforces phonemic awareness, spelling patterns, and word recognition through multisensory activities, ensuring students gain confidence and mastery in reading.

To support and reinforce these phonics concepts, our Teal Readers (Books 21-30) and Olive Readers (Books 31-40) provide decodable reading practice that systematically introduces new phonograms while reviewing previously learned material. These engaging, beautifully illustrated stories ensure that students continue to develop their reading fluency while applying new phonics rules in context. The Teal and Olive Readers are an essential part of the Readers in Rhyme Level 1 curriculum but can also be used independently or alongside other phonics curricula to provide additional reading practice and reinforcement.

Level 2

spiral mockup teacher guide bluebonnet.png

Language Arts Level 2

Level 2 Bluebonnet Readers 41-50

Level 2 Plum Readers 51-60

Our Readers in Rhyme Level 2 ELA curriculum builds upon the phonics foundation established in Level 1, continuing to strengthen students' reading fluency, comprehension, and writing skills. This comprehensive curriculum includes scripted lessons, nursery rhymes, and engaging activities designed to keep young learners excited about reading and developing essential literacy skills. In Level 2, students will review phonograms from Level 1 while learning new phonograms, including AY, AI, OY, OI, EA, AW, AU, ED, CH, NG, TCH, EIGH, EY, and EI. Through systematic phonics instruction, handwriting practice, and narration exercises, students will continue to build confidence and fluency in reading.

To reinforce the skills taught in Level 2, our Bluebonnet Readers (Books 41-50) and Plum Readers (Books 51-60) provide decodable reading practice that systematically incorporates the newly introduced phonograms while reviewing previously learned material. Whether used as a complete curriculum or as a supplement to another phonics program, Readers in Rhyme provides a comprehensive and enjoyable approach to early literacy, helping students become confident, skilled readers.

Level 3

Language Arts Level 3

Level 3 Silver Readers 61-70

Level 3 Cherry Readers 71-80

Our Readers in Rhyme Level 3 ELA curriculum is designed to solidify phonics mastery, build fluency, and develop strong reading and writing skills. This level continues to focus on phonics instruction, reading, handwriting, and narration, providing a well-rounded approach to literacy. In Level 3, students review and reinforce all phonograms taught in previous levels while expanding their knowledge with more advanced phonograms, including IE, IGH, EW, EU, DGE, KN, GN, GU, PH, WR, OUGH, TI, SI, and CI.

A significant new component of Level 3 is the introduction of cursive writing. Students will learn to write in cursive through structured lessons and extensive practice opportunities, strengthening their fine motor skills and preparing them for more advanced writing tasks.

To support the phonics instruction in Level 3, our Silver Readers (Books 61-70) and Cherry Readers (Books 71-80) offer structured, decodable reading practice with an increased emphasis on rich vocabulary and more complex sentence structures. These readers serve as an ideal bridge between phonics-based readers and basic chapter books.

Whether used as a complete curriculum or as a supplement to another phonics program, Readers in Rhyme provides a comprehensive, structured, and engaging approach to early literacy, setting students on the path to becoming confident, skilled readers and writers.

Key Features

Remediation (MTSS, RTI, ESL, ESE)

Whether you're teaching a whole class or working with individual students, our curriculum accommodates various learning and teaching styles and is designed to be used by ESE staff.
Readers in Rhyme® are aligned to Orton-Gillingham (O-G) principles of instruction and a wide body of research in reading instruction and brain science. By using our approach, teachers can effectively teach students with different learning abilities how to read and achieve success. The Readers in Rhyme® program is specially designed for K-3 students to prevent reading failure and provide early intervention support to those who need it.

Multisensory Learning

Listen, see and do. Engaging more than one sense at a time helps students process and retain what they are learning. Saying the phonogram sounds while tracing or writing, building words with magnetic letters or tiles, dictation etc. are just a few examples of this. While this approach is great for all students, it is especially helpful for children that struggle with learning to read.

Beautiful Illustrations

Our Readers In Rhyme feature beautiful vintage illustrations carefully restored alongside newly written stories. We hope the timeless themes of virtue in every day life inspire and delight your student.

Rhyme & Repitition

Rhyming and repetition are fundamental elements in early literacy development, nurturing crucial skills for young learners. Through rhymes, children develop phonological awareness by recognizing and playing with sounds in language. Repetition in books and activities helps reinforce concepts, aiding memory and recall. These linguistic patterns also contribute to vocabulary building as children encounter and internalize words in a rhythmic context. The combination of rhyming and repetition creates an engaging and enjoyable learning experience, fostering a strong foundation for language development and future literacy skills.

Color Coded Phonics

Color-coded phonograms aid with teaching and learning phonics: By using different colors to represent specific phonetic patterns or sounds, students can easily identify and recognize the patterns in words. This visual aid enhances phonemic awareness, improves word decoding skills, and assists in spelling. The color-coded system provides a simple and effective way for both teachers and students to navigate the complexities of the English language and master reading and writing with greater fluency. Red phonograms indicate the letter or letter group makes a vowel sound. Blue phonograms indicate the letter or letter group make a consonant sound.

Mastery Based

Our curriculum follows a carefully designed sequence, covering all essential phonics skills progressively. Each lesson builds upon the previous lesson and includes plenty of review.

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms and common phrases are embedded in culture and language, and exposure to them helps children understand cultural nuances and expressions. This cultural awareness contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of language.

Scripted Lessons

Our Language Arts curriculum features step-by-step scripted lessons. Each lesson provides clear instructions, guiding you through the material easily.
Each lesson contains-Handwriting, Grammar, Phonemic Awareness Activities, Phonics Practice, Fluency Passages, Poetry and Picture Study.

Open-and-Go Format: Easy prep and lesson planning.