How Reading Eggs Builds Confident Readers at Alder Flats Elementary

When students stop seeing reading practice as "work" and start viewing it as something genuinely enjoyable, you know you've found something special.

For Jennifer Doherty at Alder Flats Elementary School in rural Alberta, Canada, watching students make this shift through Reading Eggs, our online reading program for schools, has become one of the most rewarding parts of her job.

The journey with Reading Eggs began about four years ago when the school needed ways to keep students engaged with learning in a digital format.

"We definitely needed some more practice time and ways to get kids engaged digitally," Jennifer reflects. "Reading Eggs provided exactly what we needed."

True personalisation for every student

Teaching a Grade 1/2 split class, Jennifer required a literacy program that could manage diverse reading levels within a single classroom.

"Reading Eggs is very individualised. I can place my kids high or low, whatever reading level they're at, even though I teach a 1/2 split," Jennifer explains. "Some years I've had kids with Grade 4 reading abilities, so it's nice to be able to click a button, set the levels and go from there."

But the personalisation goes beyond just placement. The program addresses a common classroom challenge that many teachers will immediately recognise.

For lower readers, the program provides audio instructions, while higher readers have the option of hearing directions if they need them.

"The audio instructions were a big deal," Jennifer notes. "A lot of programs don't have that option, and we're stuck with kids saying, 'I don't know what to do.' So that was one of the big features for us!"

This thoughtful design means Jennifer can focus on teaching, while students can work independently at their own pace and level.

Boosting confidence through engagement

For the students at Alder Flats, Reading Eggs isn’t work: it's fun. Students take genuine pride in their progress, eagerly sharing their accomplishments and celebrating their achievements.

"Their confidence level has very much grown," Jennifer notes. "They can show you on a computer how many books they've read or how many questions they've answered. They really enjoy all the different aspects of Reading Eggs, and it works!"

The program's certificate system has also become particularly meaningful. When Jennifer prints out certificates at the end of lessons or skill completions, students beam with pride as they take home tangible proof of their literacy growth.

A literacy program grounded in the Science of Reading

For Jennifer, Reading Eggs also provides peace of mind because of its strong alignment with evidence-based literacy instruction.

The program builds foundational literacy skills using approaches fully aligned with Science of Reading principles.

"Reading Eggs for early learners is very helpful in that it follows that Science of Reading approach step-by-step – introducing only one idea, one task at a time, building on it, then going back to review," Jennifer explains.

This explicit and systematic approach helps solidify the phonics rules she teaches in class.

The program's placement testing is also valuable, helping her identify what students already know and allowing for truly personalised instruction from day one.

Supporting all learners, even older students

Teaching a split Grade 1/2 class, Jennifer finds that whether she's working one-on-one with a student, conducting small group instruction or providing intervention support, Reading Eggs adapts to meet her instructional needs.

"It's nice that I can set it as almost an intervention at times," Jennifer shares. "When I need a bit of reinforcement on a specific topic, I can assign tasks to all students or just the two or three who need extra support."

Importantly, Reading Eggs isn't just for younger learners. Jennifer has successfully used the program with Grade 4 students who need additional literacy support.

The program has stories and tasks that are relevant for their age, so it appeals to a wide range of student tastes. It also allows them to work on the same types of tasks as younger students but at their own level.

A practical tool for busy teachers

For a busy teacher like Jennifer, the program's flexibility is a huge plus. The intuitive platform design means students can navigate independently, freeing Jennifer to focus on targeted instruction where it's needed most.

She can easily use Reading Eggs for whole-class instruction, small group work, or one-on-one intervention.

The reporting features are also essential, and Jennifer uses the data to ensure students are staying on task and practising essential skills.

"I appreciate that I can see after 20 minutes who's done what and what they've accomplished, and who I need to check in with more often," Jennifer explains.

The ongoing customer service experience has also exceeded Jennifer's expectations, with support that addresses questions promptly, regardless of the time of day she reaches out.

When reading becomes a joy, not a job

As Jennifer continues using Reading Eggs at Alder Flats Elementary, she reflects on what makes the program so effective.

“The way it follows the Science of Reading, and the scope and sequence is very, very well done. It keeps going, follows that skill set, and it's definitely an engaging program for students to use!"

Jennifer's experience at Alder Flats Elementary shows how Reading Eggs can make a significant impact on student learning and confidence.

The combination of systematic phonics instruction, individualised pacing, meaningful progress tracking, and genuine student engagement makes Reading Eggs more than just a digital tool – it's a foundation for confident, joyful readers!

Author's note: Jennifer Doherty's insights provide a real-world perspective on how Reading Eggs effectively supports diverse literacy needs while maintaining strong alignment with evidence-based reading instruction principles.