Phonics taught step by step
The National Reading Panel (2000) found that systematic, explicit phonics beats unsystematic or no phonics (average effect 0.44).
Read the summary (National Reading Panel)Most reading apps are like cotton candy.
Enjoyable, but they have no substance; in fact, they're bad for you! If your child uses them, there's a risk they will struggle to develop the deep reading skills they need.
Why Choo Choo
One sound at a time, the way reading specialists teach it.
Each lesson teaches one letter sound, then puts it to work in real words. No guessing from pictures. When your child holds “mmm” and slides into “a”, they're reading, and the train rolls on.
- mStation 1
- aStation 2
- sStation 3
How it works
Ten minutes between dinner and bath.
Learn a sound
Your child meets a new letter and hunts for it in the sky.
Play with it
Trace it, find it, load it on the train. Short games for that one sound.
Read a word
Slide the sounds together, sssaaammm, and out comes “sam”. The train pulls into the next station.
Our secret
You're the teacher. We hand you the script.
The app never talks over you and never listens to your child. A small “Say this” card shows you what to say, so yours is the voice your child hears learning to read.
See the research
Loved by kids, built on research.
Choo Choo Training is a program your kids will love, but it's built on decades of research. We designed the app first to educate, and second to entertain.
Behind each lesson are academic studies from Harvard, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Education, and more. “What's an example?” you might ask. Here are five, with links so you can read them yourself.
Sounds tied to letters
Across 52 studies, Ehri and colleagues (2001) found that sound awareness helps reading more when children see the letters too.
Read the study (Ehri and colleagues, 2001)Spelling helps reading
Graham and Santangelo (2014), 53 studies: spelling instruction improved reading and sound awareness.
Read the study (Graham and Santangelo, 2014)Short sessions, spaced out
Vlach and Sandhofer (2012) confirmed that practice spread over time helps 5- to 7-year-olds remember (tested with science concepts, not reading).
Read the study (Vlach and Sandhofer, 2012)Reading apps can help
Kim and colleagues (2021), a Harvard Reach Every Reader review of 36 studies, found reading and math apps help modestly (+0.31). We say modestly because that is what the evidence shows.
Read the review (Harvard Reach Every Reader)Families riding with us
What parents say
“She asked to do more reading tonight.”
Parent of a 5‑year‑old
“Blending finally clicked on lesson 3.”
Parent of a 6‑year‑old
“I finally know what to say when he's stuck.”
Parent of a 4‑year‑old
Placeholder quotes for layout. Real ones come from Founding Families.
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Questions parents ask
What age is it for?
Children who are starting to learn letter sounds, usually ages 4 to 6, and older children who are stuck on blending. Some children have had success as young as two and a half.
Is it really free?
The first 5 lessons are always free. The first 100 families get lifetime access.
How much screen time is it?
About ten minutes a day, with you sitting beside your child. Each lesson has a clear finish, so it ends on a win instead of a feed of more games.
Does it use the microphone?
No. The app speaks but never listens. You listen to your child.
Do I need to download anything?
No. Open it in Chrome or Safari and add it to your home screen.
Tonight, your child reads you their bedtime story.
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