Is Your Child Ready for the Next Grade? A Reading Program for Summer Success + Free Literacy Checklist

Taylor Sofranko
May 21
3 min read

Last summer, I started working with a little boy named Asher who was about to enter Kindergarten. Math was his thing—he loved puzzles, patterns, and could count up a storm. But reading? That was a different story.

Asher didn’t see himself as a reader. He’d fidget during read-alouds, shy away from letter games, and whisper, “I’m not good at this.” His parents weren’t sure what reading readiness looked like going into Kindergarten, but they knew something wasn’t clicking.

So we got to work.

We played sound games, sang letter songs, practiced identifying the first sounds in words, and learned how to blend and decode using explicit, structured phonics lessons. Every week, his confidence grew. By the end of the summer, Asher wasn’t just ready for Kindergarten—he was reading Kindergarten books independently and could even tackle most 1st grade texts too. He walked into his new classroom with his head held high and a proud, “I can read!” smile on his face.

That’s the power of knowing what skills matter—and how to build them.

Why a Reading Program for Summer Can Prevent Learning Loss

As the school year winds down, many parents start wondering:

“Is my child ready for next year?”
“What should my child be able to do before starting ___ grade?”
“How can I help my child grow as a reader and writer over the summer?”

You're not alone. These are exactly the questions I help families answer through my reading program for summer.

Without regular reading and writing practice, many children lose skills over the summer—a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.” But with just a few weeks of targeted, structured support, kids can actually move forward instead of falling behind.

That’s where my Back-to-School Bootcamp comes in. It gives your child a clear roadmap, consistent practice, and just the right amount of challenge; so they start the next school year feeling confident, prepared, and proud of how far they’ve come.

A Reading & Writing Readiness Checklist (PreK–5)

Whether your child is about to enter PreK or heading into upper elementary, knowing what skills they should be strengthening can make a big difference. That’s why I created free grade-level literacy checklists—to help you understand what “ready” really looks like in reading and writing.

👉 Download the Reading & Writing Checklists for PreK–5 Here

Each checklist includes:

✅ Essential phonics and phonological awareness skills

✅ Grade-appropriate writing benchmarks

✅ Comprehension and vocabulary targets

✅ Realistic, parent-friendly examples

These are not meant to create pressure. They're designed to give you clarity and confidence about how to support your child’s growth in small, meaningful ways.

What If My Child Isn’t “On Track”?

Here’s the good news: You don’t need to “catch up” overnight.

Literacy development is a journey, and summer gives us time to slow down and build strong foundations. If your child struggled this year—or if you're not sure where they stand—that doesn’t mean something is wrong. It just means they need targeted support that meets them exactly where they are.

Taylor Sofranko-Sutherland working 1:1 with a student in phonics — Taylor working 1:1 with a student on phonics

That’s exactly what I do through 1:1 tutoring, using research-backed methods to build skills in:

Phonological awareness
Letter-sound knowledge
Decoding and fluency
Writing mechanics
Vocabulary and comprehension

Just like Asher, your child can start the next school year feeling confident and proud of their reading abilities.

How to Join My Reading Program for Summer Confidence & Growth

Whether you're working through the checklist at home or want expert help building your child's reading skills, I'm here to support you.

✨ Join my Summer Literacy Bootcamp! This 1:1 program is designed to help kids boost their phonics, fluency, and confidence—just like Asher did. Using structured, evidence-based instruction, we’ll build essential reading and writing skills to get your child ready for the next grade.

Want to learn more? Set up a free consultation to see how personalized tutoring can jumpstart your child’s reading journey. And don't forget to follow me on Instagram, @tasliteracy for daily literacy tips, activities, and encouragement.

Let’s make this summer one to remember—one filled with growth, confidence, and joyful reading.