If your child is struggling to learn to read, it may not be a lack of ability — it may be a mismatch in approach.

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"Once Upon a Letter" is a gentle, story-based introduction to reading through writing, designed especially for imaginative, right-brain learners who don’t connect with traditional methods.

Instead of beginning with drills or rigid phonics rules, children are invited into language and phonemic awareness through poetry, drawing, and meaningful writing experiences, allowing confidence and understanding to grow naturally over time.​

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Each lesson weaves together:

✨ Story and rhythm
✨ Form drawing to support writing development
✨ Gentle letter and sound awareness
✨ Creative expression and illustration
✨ Progressive writing, from tracing to independent “kid writing”

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This approach is inspired by Waldorf and Charlotte Mason philosophies and supports children who need a slower, more connected beginning — without pressure or overwhelm. The Waldorf philosophy is what I used with my own son after many struggles to find something that worked for him. Being diagnosed with Expressive/Receptive Language Disorder, traditional part-to-whole phonics brought him to tears. Waldorf methodology just made the most sense, and I spent years cobbling together lessons from bits and pieces I pulled together through my learning of it. Their whole-to-part approach was a natural fit, and paired together with copywork, I found my sweet spot. This book is a culmination of those things I learned along the way, put together in an easy-to-use book that makes Waldorf-inspired literacy open-and-go.

 

Created by a former Middle School English Teacher / Reading Specialist turned homeschool mother, this curriculum is rooted in both educational experience and a deep understanding of how children learn best. If your child needs a different beginning, you’re in the right place.