{"id":274,"date":"2026-08-14T11:11:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T11:11:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/blog\/"},"modified":"2026-08-14T11:20:47","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T11:20:47","slug":"blog","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Reading Blog &#038; Guides"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Welcome to the Saving Grace Learn to Read blog \u2014 practical, CAPS-aligned reading guides for South African parents. From your child\u2019s very first letter sounds to fluent reading (plus catch-up help for older learners), every guide is written to help you support reading at home with confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"sglr-hubcat wp-block-heading\">School Readiness<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Is your child ready for Grade R or Grade 1? Milestones, checklists and readiness signs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list sglr-hublist\">\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/emotional-readiness-for-big-school-south-africa\/\">Emotional Readiness for Big School: Beyond the Academics<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/grade-r-school-readiness-checklist-south-africa\/\">Grade R School Readiness Checklist for South African Parents<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/grade-rr-vs-grade-r-difference-south-africa\/\">Grade RR vs Grade R in South Africa: What&#8217;s the Difference?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/is-my-child-ready-for-grade-1-south-africa\/\">Is My Child Ready for Grade 1? A South African Parent&#8217;s Checklist<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/school-readiness-assessment-south-africa\/\">School Readiness Assessment in South Africa: What It Is and How It Works<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/what-should-grade-r-child-know-before-grade-1\/\">What Should a Grade R Child Know Before Grade 1?<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"sglr-hubcat wp-block-heading\">Phonics<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Letter sounds, blending, digraphs and the CAPS phonics order \u2014 the foundation of reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list sglr-hublist\">\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/how-to-teach-blending-sounds-to-a-5-year-old\/\">How to Teach Blending Sounds to a 5-Year-Old<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/how-to-teach-phonics-at-home-south-africa\/\">How to Teach Phonics at Home: A Simple Weekly Routine<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/pure-letter-sounds-vs-letter-names\/\">Pure Letter Sounds vs Letter Names: Why It&#8217;s &#8216;mmm&#8217;, Not &#8216;muh&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/sight-words-high-frequency-words-south-africa\/\">Sight Words and High-Frequency Words: What Parents Should Know<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/teaching-digraphs-sh-ch-th\/\">Teaching Digraphs: sh, ch and th<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/caps-phonics-order-term-by-term\/\">The CAPS Phonics Order, Term by Term<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/science-behind-phonics-reading-success\/\">The Science Behind Phonics and Reading Success<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/what-order-to-teach-letter-sounds\/\">What Order to Teach Letter Sounds (Start With s, a, t, p, i, n)<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"sglr-hubcat wp-block-heading\">Early Literacy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Building the first reading skills, spotting when a child needs support, and growing confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list sglr-hublist\">\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/afrikaanse-klanke-leer-lees\/\">Afrikaanse Klanke: Helping Your Child Learn to Read in Afrikaans<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/struggling-reader-grade-4-6-help\/\">Help for a Struggling Reader in Grade 4, 5 or 6<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/helping-struggling-readers-build-confidence\/\">Helping Struggling Readers Build Confidence<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/check-your-childs-reading-level-at-home\/\">How to Check Your Child&#8217;s Reading Level at Home<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/interactive-learning-vs-worksheets\/\">Interactive Learning vs Traditional Worksheets<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/letter-reversals-b-and-d-is-it-normal\/\">Letter Reversals (b and d): Is It Normal?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/phonemic-awareness-activities-for-preschoolers\/\">Phonemic Awareness Activities for Preschoolers<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/signs-of-dyslexia-in-children-south-africa\/\">Signs of Dyslexia in Children (South Africa): What to Watch For<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/signs-your-child-needs-reading-support\/\">Signs Your Child May Need Reading Support<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/supporting-reading-big-classes-few-books\/\">When School Isn&#8217;t Enough: Supporting Reading Despite Big Classes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/why-early-reading-matters-south-africa\/\">Why Early Reading Matters in South Africa<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"sglr-hubcat wp-block-heading\">Foundation Phase<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grade-by-grade reading expectations, sight words and catch-up help for Grades R\u20133 (and beyond).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list sglr-hublist\">\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/caps-english-home-language-grade-1-what-is-covered\/\">CAPS English Home Language Grade 1: What Is Covered?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/child-grade-4-6-reading-below-grade-level-catch-up\/\">Child in Grade 4\u20136 Reading Below Grade Level: A Catch-Up Plan<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/foundation-phase-reading-milestones-by-grade\/\">Foundation Phase Reading Milestones by Grade (R to 3)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/grade-2-reading-expectations-south-africa\/\">Grade 2 Reading in South Africa: From Sounding Out to Fluency<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/grade-2-reading-level-expectations-south-africa\/\">Grade 2 Reading Level Expectations in South Africa<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/grade-3-reading-fluency-comprehension\/\">Grade 3 Reading: Getting Ready for the Big Jump to Grade 4<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/grade-r-reading-readiness-south-africa\/\">Grade R Reading Readiness: What Your Child Should Know<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/group-guided-reading-explained-for-parents\/\">Group Guided Reading Explained for Parents<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/home-language-vs-first-additional-language-reading\/\">Home Language vs First Additional Language: Reading in Two Languages<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/how-much-reading-homework-is-normal-in-grade-1\/\">How Much Reading Homework Is Normal in Grade 1?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/grade-3-child-cant-read-what-to-do-south-africa\/\">My Grade 3 Child Can&#8217;t Read \u2014 What to Do (South Africa)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/sight-words-list-grade-1-south-africa\/\">Sight Words List for Grade 1 in South Africa (and How to Practise)<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/what-is-caps-foundation-phase-curriculum\/\">What Is the CAPS Foundation Phase Curriculum?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/grade-1-reading-level-south-africa\/\">What Reading Level Should a Grade 1 Child Be At in South Africa?<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/why-reading-for-meaning-grade-r-3\/\">Why Reading for Meaning Is Essential in Grade R\u20133<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"sglr-hubcat wp-block-heading\">Homeschooling<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Practical guides for teaching reading at home, CAPS-aligned and parent-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list sglr-hublist\">\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/choosing-the-right-learn-to-read-programme\/\">Choosing the Right Learn-to-Read Programme for Your Child<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/dbe-workbooks-how-to-use-at-home\/\">DBE Workbooks: How to Use Them at Home<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/homeschooling-foundation-phase-south-africa-guide\/\">Homeschooling the Foundation Phase in South Africa: A Starter Guide<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/help-struggling-reader-at-home-without-tears\/\">How to Help a Struggling Reader at Home Without Tears<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/how-to-teach-your-child-to-read-at-home\/\">How to Teach Your Child to Read at Home<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/reading-catch-up-programme-south-africa-what-to-look-for\/\">Reading Catch-Up Programme in South Africa: What to Look For<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"sglr-hubcat wp-block-heading\">News<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Announcements and updates from Saving Grace Learn to Read.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list sglr-hublist\">\n\n<li><a href=\"\/guides\/sgeg-launches-interactive-learn-to-read\/\">Saving Grace Education Group Launches South Africa&#8217;s Interactive Learn-to-Read Programme<\/a><\/li>\n\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ready to turn these tips into daily progress?<\/strong> Saving Grace Learn to Read is a CAPS-aligned, self-paced online reading programme for South African children in Grades R\u20136 \u2014 with read-aloud support and progress you can follow. The first two lessons of every grade are free, no card needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/sign-up\">Start free<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"\/guides\/how-it-works\/\">See how it works<\/a><\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to the Saving Grace Learn to Read blog \u2014 practical, CAPS-aligned reading guides for South African parents. From your child\u2019s very first letter sounds to fluent reading (plus catch-up help for older learners), every guide is written to help you support reading at home with confidence. School Readiness Is your child ready for Grade [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-274","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/274","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=274"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/274\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":323,"href":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/274\/revisions\/323"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/savinggracelearntoread.co.za\/guides\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=274"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}