Introduction: The Reading Game Kids Don’t Want to Stop Playing
If you’ve ever wished your students would ask to practice reading, this is your answer. Teach Your Monster to Read turns phonics instruction into a story-driven adventure—complete with customizable monsters, interactive sound games, and missions that grow with each learner.
Created by the Usborne Foundation and grounded in the science of reading, this award-winning program helps children progress from letter recognition to fluent reading—all through gameplay that’s joyful, adaptive, and screen-time well spent. Unlike many early literacy apps, Teach Your Monster to Read is free, ad-free, research-informed, and classroom-ready, making it a favorite among educators worldwide.
In Encouraging Student Growth with Teach Your Monster to Read, led by Rachel Lindsay and offered through SchoolDay Academy (powered by Coursera), you’ll learn how to set up and manage your class, group students by skill level, connect families for home access, and track real-time progress—all in under an hour.
Whether you teach kindergarten phonics, first-grade reading groups, or literacy intervention, this Guided Project will help you turn reading time into playtime—and progress into celebration. Because when reading feels like an adventure, students don’t just practice more—they want to.
Why This Course Matters
Strong readers aren’t just taught—they’re motivated. Teach Your Monster to Read combines evidence-based literacy instruction with the irresistible pull of a video game, helping teachers build consistency and excitement around daily reading practice.
This Guided Project gives you everything you need to get started—fast. You’ll learn to:
- Spark independent reading practice with fun, self-paced missions that reinforce phonics and word recognition.
- Differentiate easily by grouping students and customizing skill levels.
- Keep families engaged through parent accounts that extend learning at home.
- Monitor growth using built-in data dashboards for sounds, blending, and tricky words.
- Celebrate success with rewards, progress charts, and reading milestones that motivate your class.
It’s practical, high-impact professional development for teachers who want to see real growth—without spending extra prep time.
What You’ll Learn
Follow along in a hands-on, guided format designed for quick implementation:
- Create a free Teach Your Monster to Read account and set up your class.
- Group students by skill level and reading readiness.
- Adjust settings to differentiate and personalize learning.
- Connect parents/guardians for seamless home-to-school reinforcement.
- Track progress and reward achievement through in-game incentives and teacher tools.
No prior experience required. If you can run a reading group, you can run this game.
Course Details
- Time to Complete: ~1 hour (self-paced, hands-on)
- Format: Guided Project (desktop only; no downloads required)
- Certificate: Shareable upon completion
- Language: English
- Level: Beginner
- Instructor: Rachel Lindsay • Coursera Project Network
Real-World Impact for Teachers
By the end of this Guided Project, you’ll have a ready-to-use classroom set up inside Teach Your Monster to Read—and a literacy routine that’s easy to sustain:
- Morning warm-ups: 10 minutes of focused, gamified practice.
- Independent centers: Self-guided reading with built-in feedback.
- Home learning: Parent accounts extend practice beyond the classroom.
- Progress checks: Built-in reports help you regroup and target instruction.
Students get instant motivation, families see visible growth, and you get back precious prep time.
Why SchoolDay Academy Recommends This Course
At SchoolDay Academy, we believe professional learning should deliver immediate impact in the classroom—and Encouraging Student Growth with Teach Your Monster to Read delivers exactly that. It helps teachers:
- Transform phonics practice into play-based learning.
- Bridge school-to-home reading continuity.
- Track and celebrate student progress effortlessly.
- Earn a shareable professional development certificate.
Access this course through the SchoolDay Academy annual subscription—$149 per user per year, with district pricing as low as $100 per user.
To expand your digital teaching toolkit, explore more engaging SDA projects like Canva for Teachers, Design Infographics with Prezi, Create Engaging Presentations with Mentimeter, and Professional Presentations: Canva AI Magic Studio—each one practical, creative, and classroom-tested.
Conclusion & Call to Action
If you’re ready to turn reading practice into something your students can’t wait to do, this Guided Project is your next must-do.
Start learning “Encouraging Student Growth with Teach Your Monster to Read” today on SchoolDay Academy (powered by Coursera) and give your students the joy—and confidence—of reading through play.