The Science of Reading in Action: How Secret Stories and UFLI Help Homeschoolers Succeed

Reading is one of the most important skills your child will ever learn and as homeschool parents, you want to make sure you’re using the most effective methods. In recent years, more and more schools and families have turned to the Science of Reading to guide literacy instruction. But what does that mean, and how do programs like Secret Stories and UFLI (University of Florida Literacy Institute) fit in?

At Creative STEAM Academy, we use research-based tools to help students build strong foundations in reading through phonics and phonemic awareness. Here’s how these approaches work together to give homeschoolers an advantage.

📖 What Is the Science of Reading?

The Science of Reading is not a single program it’s a body of research showing how the brain learns to read. It emphasizes:

• Phonics & phonemic awareness (understanding sounds and how they connect to letters)

• Decoding skills (sounding out unfamiliar words)

• Vocabulary building

• Comprehension strategies

This approach is structured, systematic, and evidence-based ensuring students develop the tools they need to become confident, fluent readers.

🔑 Secret Stories: Making Phonics Fun and Memorable

Secret Stories is a program that introduces phonics concepts through engaging “secret” stories that explain why letters make certain sounds. Instead of memorizing long lists, students learn patterns in a way that feels playful and sticks.

For example:

• The “Bossy R” story explains why “R” changes the vowel sound before it.

• The “Sneaky Y” story helps kids remember when Y acts like a vowel.

These stories tap into curiosity and imagination, making phonics instruction fun, interactive, and long-lasting.

🧩 UFLI: Systematic & Research-Based Literacy Instruction

The University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) program offers a structured way to teach phonics and decoding. UFLI lessons are:

• Explicit – Teachers guide students step-by-step.

• Systematic – Skills are introduced in a logical sequence.

• Cumulative – Each lesson builds on the previous one.

For homeschool families, UFLI provides a proven framework that ensures students don’t miss critical skills — and it works especially well when paired with engaging tools like Secret Stories.

🌟 Why This Matters for Homeschoolers

Homeschool parents often worry: Am I teaching reading the right way? By using the Science of Reading as a foundation — and tools like Secret Stories and UFLI for reinforcement you can feel confident your child is learning in a way that is:

• Research-based

• Engaging and age-appropriate

• Adaptable for different learning styles

• Effective for struggling readers as well as advanced learners

🏫 How Creative STEAM Academy Uses These Tools

At Creative STEAM Academy in Orange County, our credentialed teachers incorporate the Science of Reading, Secret Stories, and UFLI into our Phonics & Reading program. Students benefit from:

• Direct instruction in phonics

• Fun, story-based reinforcement

• Hands-on activities and practice

• Small class sizes for personalized support

This combination ensures that students not only learn to read they learn to love reading.

✅ Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a homeschool learning center that provides structured, research-based reading instruction with engaging tools like Secret Stories and UFLI, Creative STEAM Academy may be the perfect fit.