FAQs about Phonics and Decodable Books

What is the difference between phonics and decodable?

Phonics instruction teaches the relationship between letters and sounds, helping
children understand that written letters represent sounds in spoken words. A
“decodable” is a book written to help children practice the phonics skills they’ve been
taught. Whole Phonics™ decodable books align directly with this instruction—every
word in our stories is built from phonics patterns students have already learned, making reading accessible and confidence-building.

What age are decodable books for?

Whole Phonics™ decodable books are not defined by age but by a child’s mastery of
specific phonics skills. Children use our decodable books whenever they are learning to blend sounds and apply phonics knowledge in connected text, whether that’s in Pre-K, kindergarten, or early elementary grades.

What is the difference between a decodable book and a leveled reader?

Whole Phonics™ decodable book follow a structured, systematic approach rooted in the science of reading, ensuring all words are fully decodable based on explicitly taught phonics patterns. Leveled readers, by contrast, come from the balanced literacy model and often rely on repetitive patterns or pictures that encourage children to guess words rather than decode them.

When should children start using decodable books?

Children can begin reading Whole Phonics™ decodable books as soon as they know a
few letter-sound correspondences and can blend sounds into simple words. Our Off We Go! series is designed for this stage, introducing early readers to phonics patterns and books containing letters such as m, s, t, f, c, b, x, and short a.

When should children stop using decodable books?

Transitioning away from Whole Phonics™ decodable books should happen gradually.
As children gain fluency, teachers and parents can introduce authentic texts while
continuing to use decodable books for practicing new or more complex phonics
patterns. Students are ready to move beyond Whole Phonics™ once they can
confidently decode unfamiliar words in grade-level texts.

What age should kids learn phonics?

Phonics learning should begin early - typically around ages 4–5, or during Pre-K and
Kindergarten. Whole Phonics™ materials support instruction from these early years
through elementary school, ensuring children master the phonics skills required for
lifelong reading fluency.

What is the difference between phonics and phonemic awareness?

Phonemic awareness is the ability to hear, identify, and manipulate individual sounds
(phonemes) in spoken words without using print. Phonics instruction connects those
sounds to written letters, bringing together listening and visual recognition of letter
shapes. Whole Phonics™ instruction combines both skills to build strong, confident
readers who can decode and comprehend text effectively.