Free Download · No Signup Required

The Literacy Toolkit: Free Reading & Phonics Resources for Teachers and Parents

A literacy toolkit is a ready-to-use set of assessments, instructional visuals, and practice resources that helps children learn to decode, read, and spell. This free literacy toolkit from Secret Stories®, the phonics program rated ESSA Tier 1 (STRONG evidence) by independent researchers, gives teachers and parents everything needed to find reading gaps and start closing them this week.

What Is Inside the Free Literacy Toolkit

Free PDF Secret Skill Check: Phonics Assessment A quick, low-prep reading assessment that shows exactly which phonics skills a child already has and which to teach next. The starting point of any literacy toolkit. Download the Skill Check
Free PDF Phonics Practice Bingo A print-and-play phonics game that turns decoding practice into the part of the day kids ask for. Works in classrooms, small groups, and at the kitchen table. Download the Bingo Set
Research ESSA Evidence Summary The independent research summary behind the toolkit: reading outcomes, evidence tier, and methodology from LXD Research. Read the Research
More Free Resources The Full Free Resource Library Posters, printables, songs, and more teacher-made phonics resources, all free, all classroom-tested for over two decades. Browse Free Resources

What Belongs in a Literacy Toolkit

Whether you are a classroom teacher, a reading interventionist, or a parent, an effective literacy toolkit covers five jobs. Use this checklist to audit whatever you are using now:

  • 1. A quick assessment so you know exactly which letter sounds and patterns a child knows. Start with the free Secret Skill Check above.
  • 2. Explicit phonics instruction that teaches why letters make the sounds they make, not just memorization. This is the core of the Secret Stories method.
  • 3. Visual anchors on the wall kids can reference mid-word, every time they read or write. That is the job of the classroom poster kits.
  • 4. Guided daily practice that moves skills from taught to owned, like the student workbooks and phonics flashcards.
  • 5. Engagement: songs, stories, and games, because the fastest path to reading is a kid who wants more. The musical brain teasers and Bingo set above handle this one.

A literacy toolkit is not a curriculum replacement. The best ones layer on top of whatever core program a school already uses, UFLI, Heggerty, Orton-Gillingham, Wonders, CKLA, or Fundations, and fill the decoding gap those programs leave open.

Parents: not sure where your child stands?

Take the free 60-second reading quiz and get a personalized plan alongside your toolkit downloads.

Take the Free Reading Quiz

Why Teachers Trust This Literacy Toolkit

Secret Stories® was created by veteran teacher Katie Garner, M.Ed., and has been classroom-tested for over 25 years. It is used by 100,000+ educators, holds a 4.9 star rating across 22,000+ verified reviews, and earned the highest federal evidence rating available, ESSA Tier 1 STRONG, in an independent evaluation. Classrooms using it report 1.5 to 2+ grade levels of reading growth. Read the research overview or hear from teachers using it now.

Literacy Toolkit FAQ

What is a literacy toolkit?

A literacy toolkit is a collection of assessments, instructional visuals, and practice materials used to teach children to read. A good one covers assessment, explicit phonics instruction, visual references, guided practice, and engagement, so a teacher or parent can find a reading gap and close it without buying a full curriculum.

Is this literacy toolkit really free?

Yes. The Secret Skill Check assessment, the Phonics Practice Bingo set, and the research summary are free PDF downloads with no signup required. The classroom kits, workbooks, and flashcards that extend the toolkit are sold separately.

Who is this toolkit for?

K-3 classroom teachers, reading interventionists, homeschool families, and parents of children who are learning to read or struggling with reading. Nothing in it requires a teaching background.

Does it align with the science of reading?

Yes. The method behind this toolkit teaches explicit phonics through brain-based mnemonic stories and holds an ESSA Tier 1 STRONG evidence rating from an independent research evaluation, the same standard used to judge major curriculum adoptions.

Can schools purchase the full toolkit with grant funds?

Yes. The classroom kits and professional development qualify for Title I, Title IIA, ESSER, and most state literacy grant funding. Schools can request a countersign-ready quote and pay by purchase order.

The Literacy Toolkit is published by Secret Stories® (Marenem, Inc.) and is based on 25+ years of classroom practice and independent research. Individual results vary. It is a supplemental resource, not a replacement for comprehensive reading instruction or professional evaluation of reading difficulties.