Free parent-guided reading check · K–6 · About 10–12 minutes

Your child is working hard, but reading still isn’t clicking.

Complete this short check together to see which foundational skills may need attention and receive a focused two-week plan. The activities use Structured Literacy and are informed by Orton-Gillingham principles, so you know what to practice at home.

No teaching experience needed. You’ll enter your child’s first name, age and grade to begin, then your contact details so we can send the report.

Direct teaching
Skills are explained, not guessed

A clear sequence
Each step builds on the last

Hands-on practice
Hear, say, tap and map sounds

Why DOBI

Reading should be taught—not guessed.

DOBI uses Structured Literacy: sounds, letters and word patterns are taught directly, in a clear sequence, with review built in. These foundational practices are supported by reading research, and our activities are informed by Orton-Gillingham principles.

Instead of giving every child the same worksheet pack, we match the sounds not yet demonstrated on the check to DOBI concept-card practice, then build eight short sessions around the most useful priorities.

What the check looks at

The sound skills underneath word reading

The check focuses on the foundations children use to work out unfamiliar words. It helps narrow down where focused practice may be most useful.

01

Letter-sound knowledge

Common consonant sounds and short vowel sounds.

02

Sounds within words

Hearing the beginning, ending and middle sounds.

03

Breaking apart and blending

Separating a word into sounds and putting sounds back together.

A useful starting point, not a diagnosis

This quick check looks at foundational word-reading skills. It cannot diagnose dyslexia or another learning disability, determine reading age or grade level, or replace a full assessment.

For children in Grades 4–6, it also does not measure spelling, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension or oral language.

Your information: We use the details you provide to prepare and send the report. There is no camera, microphone or recording. Read our privacy notice.

Ready to begin?

Start with two weeks of focused practice.

Complete the check, follow the plan at home and see how your child responds to direct, structured teaching. If you want a fuller picture, your report also includes a simple way to request a full DOBI assessment.

No teaching experience needed.

Example package

A preview of what you’ll receive

This representative sample uses a fictional child. Your report and activities are selected from the responses you submit.

DOBI READING SKILLS SNAPSHOT · SAMPLE

Sam’s helpful starting point

On this check, Sam consistently demonstrated beginning sounds and needed more practice separating every sound in a word.

Beginning soundsDemonstrated consistently
Middle soundsDeveloping
Sound segmentationRecommended starting point

Sounds and priorities selected from the check

  1. v — /v/ — valleyUse the matching DOBI concept-card cue and mouth instruction.
  2. Say–Tap–MapPractice the exact whole sound sequences that were not yet demonstrated.
SESSION 2 · SAY–TAP–MAP

Everything the parent needs is written out.

1. What you need: Three coins or buttons and the sound-box page.

2. MODEL — Adult says: “Watch me: at is /ă/ /t/.” This teaching item is not counted.

3. TOGETHER: Tap in once together, then put it aside.

4. CHILD PRACTICE — Your child: Tries up, on, am, it. Only these words count in NO HELP or MODEL.

CHILD PRACTICE WORD · COVER FROM CHILDup
ADULT ANSWER · 2 SOUNDS/ŭ/ /p/

If your child is unsure: Read the matching answer, do that item together once, mark MODEL, and move to the next listed word. Stop if your child becomes upset.