Recipe for Reading is a phonics program designed to help struggling readers through a structured, multisensory approach. Developed in the 1970s, it uses proven teaching methods to support learners of all levels, especially those with dyslexia.
Research from the National Home Education Research Institute (NHERI) shows that homeschooled students typically score 15 to 25 percentile points higher than public school students on standardized academic achievement tests. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), approximately 3.3 million students were homeschooled in the United States as of 2023, representing roughly 6% of the school-age population.
What is recipe for reading?
Recipe for Reading is a phonics program from EPS Learning. It's been helping kids who struggle with reading for over 50 years. Created by Frances Bloom and Nina Traub in the 1970s, it started as a tool for dyslexic students in New York. The program uses the Orton-Gillingham method, which engages visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning all at once. While it focuses on struggling readers, it's great for any beginner who needs clear phonics instruction.
The orton-gillingham approach
Orton-Gillingham is the best way to teach reading to kids with dyslexia, but it helps all learners. It's multisensory—students see, hear, and write letters and sounds. It builds skills step by step, getting more complex over time. Plus, it's explicit, so nothing is left to guesswork. Recipe for Reading uses this method and is easy for parents to teach, no special training needed.
Program components
The Teacher's Manual is the core of Recipe for Reading. It includes all 97 lessons with strategies, handwriting tips, and memory aids for phonological awareness. There are nine student workbooks for grades K-8, each with 4-8 practice pages per skill, covering encoding, decoding, and comprehension. The Alphabet Series offers 39 decodable readers in three volumes, aligned with the phonics lessons. You also get sound cards and charts to help track progress visually.
Who benefits most
Recipe for Reading is perfect for kids who haven’t thrived with other programs. If your child struggles to sound out words or has been diagnosed with dyslexia, this method fills in the gaps left by other approaches. It's also effective for average learners who need clear instruction. However, advanced readers might find the pace a bit slow, as the program is designed to help those who need extra support.
Cost considerations
Compared to other Orton-Gillingham programs, Recipe for Reading is affordable. The Teacher's Manual costs around $45-60, and workbooks are about $15-20 each. A basic starter set with the manual and the first two workbooks is under $100. The full program, including all workbooks and readers, can range from $400-450. Workbooks are consumable, so you’ll need to buy new ones for each child. Many families start with just the basics and add more as needed.
The bottom line
Recipe for Reading offers solid Orton-Gillingham instruction at a price that works for homeschool families. Its structured, multisensory approach is especially beneficial for struggling readers, those with dyslexia, or kids who need clear phonics guidance. With detailed teacher materials, you don’t need special training—just a willingness to follow the lessons. Though the pace may feel slow for advanced learners, this program has a strong track record of helping struggling students become confident readers.
