First Start Reading vs The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
The sharpest difference is faith content: First Start Reading is Light, The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading is None. Two others separate them as well.
At a glance
First Start Reading
Grades K-1
Owners report it suits
Hands-on learnersThe Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
Grades PreK-5
Owners report it suits
Advanced/giftedBoth are reported to suit Struggling learners.
Skip to who fitsWhere they differ
| Attribute | First Start Reading | The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading |
|---|---|---|
Independence
?How much the child can do alone. Where a program lands on the 1 to 5 scale:
|
|
|
| Faith content | Light | None |
| Format | Workbook | Textbook |
| Best for Tags show where owners consistently report a good fit. They are not exclusions. | Struggling learnersHands-on learners | Advanced/giftedStruggling learners |
| Method | ClassicalSynthetic phonicsOrton-Gillingham | TraditionalClassicalSynthetic phonics |
| Grades | K-1 | PreK-5 |
Solid tags are unique to that program. Muted tags are carried by both.
Where they match
- Rigorboth on grade
- Parent involvementboth parent-taught
- Prep loadboth open-and-go
- Screen timeboth fully offline
- Time commitmentboth 15 to 25 min
- Approachboth Mastery
- Used asboth Spine
How each one plays by grade
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading runs 4 grades further than First Start Reading. If you want one program to carry the subject for the long haul, plan on leaving First Start Reading around grade 1 and choosing again.
First Start Reading
Grades K-1
Kindergarten uses the teacher guide plus Books A-D, and first grade continues with Book E. Optional Classical Phonics and phonetic readers cover some of the noted gaps.
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
Grades PreK-5
Covers concepts from kindergarten through roughly fourth or fifth grade. Many families pause partway once early reading is solid, then return for the advanced lessons.
Cost
| Cost item | First Start Reading | The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $54.20/set (A-D) | $32-40 (both books) |
| Consumable | Yes | No |
| Per child / year | ~$54-70 first child, ~$33 after | ~$35 once, ~$10-15/child-year over the years it takes |
What parents report
First Start Reading
Consistently praised
- Phonics, reading, and handwriting all in one book
- Open and go for a first-time teacher
- Serious focus on pencil grip and letter formation
- Kids start reading in the very first lessons
- One of the most affordable ways to teach reading
Reported as challenges
- Real gaps by the end (no r-controlled vowels, -ing, or -ed)
- Not enough sight words compared to other programs
- Book D and E pace can feel fast
- Scripting and plain pages are not for everyone
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading
Consistently praised
- Fully scripted, so any parent can teach it
- Inexpensive for how thorough it is
- Takes a child from letter sounds to advanced words
- Built-in review keeps skills from slipping
- No spelling or writing mixed in, lessons stay focused
Reported as challenges
- The scripting gets repetitive and predictable
- Text-heavy with no color or games
- It can take a few years to finish
- Some kids need phonics readers added for practice
Who First Start Reading fits
Fits classical or traditional families who want an affordable, parent-taught print primer that folds handwriting into phonics and needs no separate readers to start. Parents who want a screen-based, hands-off option, or full phonogram coverage without supplementing, should look at an app like Reading Eggs or a fuller program like All About Reading.
Read the full First Start Reading entry Check price Memoria PressWho The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading fits
Suits parents who want a thorough, low-cost phonics spine they can open and teach, including remedial work with an older child who missed phonics. Families wanting hands-on activities or a colorful all-in-one kit should keep looking. It's frequently paired with Explode the Code for written practice.
Read the full The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading entry Check price Well-Trained Mind PressSome links on this site are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes how a curriculum is described or scored.
Still deciding?
First Start Reading compared with
The Ordinary Parent's Guide to Teaching Reading compared with
Descriptions aggregate what homeschool parents consistently report across public community sources together with each publisher's own materials. Prices and editions change over time. Both entries last reviewed July 2026.