Level 1a: The Foundation of Reading - ebooks

Learning to Read – Back to Basics: the first of a series of learning manuals in our program, guiding children step by step through the very beginning of reading. It introduces letters, sounds, and essential vocabulary, preparing them to read their first book with confidence.

Letter Books: A dedicated book for each of the 26 letters of the alphabet. These books teach the letter's name, its basic sound, and how it appears in both uppercase and lowercase forms. Students also explore variations in fonts and cursive styles to build familiarity with letters in all their forms.

A-Z Phonics Alphabet Book: A simple, engaging alphabet resource that builds letter recognition.

Drill Words: 6 books of simple words and pictures, capital and lowercase for recognition. Companion series to the Letter Books.

Affinity Press Phonics Reading Program

Welcome to Affinity Press, where we empower age 4+ learners to discover the joy of reading through our engaging phonics program. Designed for early learners, our Learning to Read - Back to Basics, The Methods that Work series provides a strong foundation in literacy, guiding young students step-by-step toward confident, independent reading.

Why Choose Our Program?

How It Works

Our phonics program is structured to make learning to read engaging, systematic, and effective. Starting with our foundational book, Learning to Read Back to Basics - The Methods that Work (Level 1a), students embark on a journey that introduces them to the essentials of reading in a clear and supportive way. This program is perfect for parents, educators, or tutors looking to help 4 year old and above learners master the building blocks of literacy, as well as older students needing reading support to build confidence and skills.

Level 1a: The Foundation of Reading:

A Clear Path Forward

• Learning to Read - Back to Basics: This book is the first book in the series taking a child through his/her first steps in reading using a gradient approach. Follow its pages in order with your child to introduce them to reading. By the end of this book, your child will understand the vocabulary at this level, be introduced to the names of each letter and recognize their speech sounds, and be able to read their first reader.

• Letter Books: A dedicated book for each of the 26 letters of the alphabet. These books teach the letter's name, its basic sound, and how it appears in both uppercase and lowercase forms. Students also explore variations in fonts and cursive styles to build familiarity with letters in all their forms.

• Drill Words: There are several decks of cards for a game that is played in each of the Letter Books. Using level-appropriate words like bat, hen, pig, pot and mug with lovely colourful pictures on the reverse to engage the child.

  There are 2 other decks for capital letters and lowercase letters which are used in the book and the Letter Books for recognition activities. Each card has a level 1a appropriate example word on the reverse and a beautiful picture to illustrate it.

• First Reader: By the end of Learning to Read - Back to Basics, your child will be able to read the first reader independently, a rewarding milestone that celebrates their progress.

  This reader is available in a pocket-sized book that your child can take with him/her anywhere easily to practice reading and show off their newfound skills. Word cards for the reader are included.

Level 1a is just the beginning! It includes Learning to Read - Back to Basics and its accompanying letter books and cards. As we continue to develop the series, Levels 1b and 1c will build on this foundation, followed by Levels 2, 3, and 4 to complete the comprehensive phonics program. The alphabet chart coming out with Level 1b will be complete with level-appropriate words like bat, hen, pig, pot and mug. This will be beautifully illustrated to be visually engaging for the child.

The program’s introductory chapter (on pages 2–3 of Learning to Read) provides a detailed overview of our proven reading method, ensuring you have all the guidance needed to support your learner.

Get Started Today

Whether you’re a parent or educator, our phonics program is designed to make teaching reading straightforward and effective.

Purchase Learning to Read — Back to Basics and its materials as instant PDF downloads directly from our website.

Join us in helping young readers discover the joy of words. Start with Level 1a today and watch your child's confidence soar!

Our program is designed to start at a low gradient of texts starting with words carefully chosen to only have the basic sounds of the letters and gradually introducing other sounds and letter pairs as the child's confidence and ability to read grows. Learning more and more how to decipher words and confidently read these kinds of words as they are learnt so as not to lose the desire to read. It is only too hard when there has been too much thrown in too soon before they have grasped the more basic concepts.

How our program is different is we explain as we introduce each new letter sound, letter pair or new concept and then practice plenty to make sure it is grasped before moving up. We don't throw in words that are above their level or include reading in the readers before they have learned how to read those words.

About

Affinity Press

Learning to Read — Back to Basics is the work of Marcia Reid — homeschooling mother, educator, and the sole author behind the program.

Marcia created these materials for her own children. Unable to find phonics resources that were genuinely well-paced and systematic, she built them herself — starting from the ground up with a method grounded in how children actually learn to read. What began as a personal project became a complete, illustrated program spanning six levels.

Marcia has teaching experience at an independent school, but it is her years of homeschooling her two children that truly shaped this work. She knows what it takes to guide a child through the early stages of reading — what confuses them, what builds confidence, and what pace actually works.

Her husband Paul supported the project by creating many of the images and handling the technical and publishing side — but the program, its method, and its content are entirely Marcia's.

If you're looking for a phonics program that was built by a parent who has actually used it, this is it.

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