Decodables Provide Learning Equity for Proficient and Struggling Readers
When you incorporate decodable books into your early reading curriculum, you are giving your students the tools they need to accelerate their reading. Whether your students are advanced readers preparing for more challenging texts or struggling readers catching up, decodable books provide essential skills practice to ensure every student’s success. Decodables allow all students to practice correct pronunciation and word recognition within controlled texts, building a sense of accomplishment before transitioning to more complex texts.
How to Select the Best Decodable Books for Your Classroom
You know you need decodables in your classroom, but how do you choose the best ones? Here’s a simple checklist to keep in mind:
- Align with Your Reading Program
If you use a specific reading program, select decodable readers that align with it. These books should build a solid foundation in phonics skills to advance students to the next level. - Match Phonics Skills to Your Curriculum
Use decodable books that both cover familiar phonics skills and introduce new ones. Follow the Scope & Sequence in your curriculum closely to ensure optimal learning progression. - Engage Students with Relevant Content
Ongoing evaluations inform differentiated instruction, tailoring lessons to meet individual needs.
Tip: The right illustrations and photographs motivate students, but they should enhance rather than detract from decoding skills. Avoid images that encourage guessing over decoding. - Consider Length and Readability
Make sure the decodable books are of a manageable length for your students’ abilities. You want students to feel challenged but not overwhelmed. - Select Books with Graduated Difficulty
Choose a decodable series where books gradually increase in difficulty—covering phonics skills, word length, and sentence complexity. This progression helps students steadily build their reading skills. - Ensure Consistency in Format
Some students benefit from a consistent format and structure (e.g., font size, spacing, and image placement). Select decodables with a uniform design to support decoding and reading fluency.
Choose the Right Decodables for Your Classroom Today!
For more information about choosing just the right decodables for your classroom, visit SundanceNewbridge.com/DecoderKids. Contact us to learn about alignments with major literacy programs.
Want to see the impact firsthand? Request your FREE print sampler kit of Decoder Kids products. These kits provide everything you need to implement effective phonics instruction in your classroom immediately.
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