What are Decodable Books?

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As children learn phonics concepts, they need an opportunity to apply skills in a functional way. That is where decodable books come in! After students have been given explicit instruction and time to practice a new phonics concept by reading individual words, phrases or sentences, they should read a decodable book to practice utilizing this new skill in the context of a book. After all, children are learning phonics so that they can eventually read books fluently.

The connecting of letters and speech sounds, known as phonics, is necessary for all children to learn to read, but learning to read requires much more than phonics instruction. Reading is thinking, and decodable books bridge the gap between cracking the code of written language and using phonics in the context of reading books.

Why Use Decodable Books?

Decodable books are tremendously helpful for beginning readers as they elevate phonics instruction. Decodable books are designed to encourage children to sound out words using decoding strategies, rather than guessing from pictures or predicting from other cues. 

Decodable books allow children to experience independent reading success and build confidence with newly developed phonics skills. Additionally, high quality decodable books that include stories with a true narrative arc mirror the format of most fiction books. The Whole Phonics™ decodable books contain the essential elements that make books compelling (e.g., characters, setting, problem, solution), so they serve as a wonderful model to help children learn about the classic components of a fiction-based book.

When should decodable books be used? 

Typically, decodable books are used between pre-k and second grade when children are learning to read and master the code of our written language. However, the time it takes to progress through a phonics program and acquire letter-to-sound connections differs from reader to reader. Many upper elementary and middle school students read decodable books when they are still learning to master the code. Adults who are also acquiring phonics knowledge may benefit from reading decodable books with a child due to the focus on practicing new sounds. It is never too late to learn to read!

What Other Skills Are Covered in Decodable Books?

Another way teachers can use decodable books is for comprehension practice. We want children to gain a love for reading right from the start, so it’s important that we expose them to books in which they can connect with an engaging story. A common misconception about decodable books is that they are boring. Some certainly are! But others, like the Whole Phonics™ books, can be entertaining and lead to meaningful conversations. When teachers tell us that students LOVE our books, we know that young students are already experiencing the enjoyment that a wonderful book can provide. 

With high quality decodable books, teachers and parents can discuss the plot and check for comprehension while children also practice the mechanics of reading. In addition to comprehension, decodable books are a great way to build reading fluency, discuss sentence structure, build vocabulary, and learn about morphology. All of these skills are essential components of building strong readers.

Decodable Books vs Uncontrolled Text

Phonics instruction helps students build foundational reading skills by teaching them to sound out words and recognize letter-sound correspondences in a structured sequence. Decodable books are often called “controlled” because the language of each story is chosen to reflect the phonics skills that have been taught. Books that are “leveled,” or uncontrolled, are not typically designed to teach phonics skills in a sequential manner. The chart below illustrates many differences: 

Whole Phonics Decodable Books Uncontrolled Text
Rigorous Scope & Sequence
Builds foundational reading skills
Targets specific phonics skills
Encourages students to sound out words
Engaging stories
Approachable for beginning readers Sometimes
Builds confidence Sometimes
Should be read by parents

An Additional Step to Support Beginning Readers

While decodable texts support beginning and striving readers as they learn phonics skills, the ultimate goal of reading instruction is to enable fluent reading of complex, uncontrolled texts. To achieve this, students should be reading decodable books that match their current level of phonics knowledge, while listening to text that is beyond what they can decode. By listening to more complex texts, stud ents learn vocabulary and additional information that can build their background knowledge, an important aspect of becoming a strong reader. 

Where to Start?

    Our Decodable Book Series

    If you don’t know where to start, in each of our decodable books you’ll find our scope and sequence. On the back covers of our books you’ll find a visual representation of our sequence of instruction within each level.

    Our Alignments

    For teachers who are already using a phonics program in their classroom, check out our alignments to see how to integrate Whole Phonics™ books into your reading curriculum.

    Shop our Alignment Bundles

    Conclusion

    Decodable books are an essential part of any phonics curriculum. They provide students with the opportunity to practice their new reading skills in the context of a story. Additionally, reading decodable books with a complete narrative arc, as found in the Whole Phonics™ books, allows them to develop a love of reading right from the start while learning the necessary skills to become a proficient reader.