Decodable books play a vital role in helping children develop a love for reading and have been utilized in early literacy instruction for decades. They offer valuable opportunities for children to practice new phonics skills while building on their existing knowledge.
What are decodable books?
Decodable books are specifically designed for early readers and include letter-sound correspondences and high frequency words that students have already learned. Typically, these books come with a scope and sequence that lists the phonics skills included, arranged in a developmental order.
For a book to be decodable, students must already have the code. They must have learned the phonics skills and the high-frequency words in the book for it to be considered appropriate in complexity. If a student cannot read the book with at least a 90% accuracy rate, the material is likely too challenging for them.
Historically, decodable books were known for their silly and nonsensical stories, such as “the pig jigs in a wig.” Due to the limitations of writing such tightly controlled text, decodable books are often boring or use awkward or strange language structures. However, a renewed interest in phonics instruction has led to the creation of higher-quality decodable books.
Decodable books today
Modern decodable books use natural language that resembles how students will eventually engage with texts. They feature rich illustrations and high-quality photographs that keep readers engaged with the story while they practice their phonics skills. These books often include vibrant colors, diverse characters, and imagery that appeals to the target age group.
The best decodable books provide opportunities for students to practice new skills while also reviewing previously learned ones. When selecting decodable books for your child, look for titles that build upon and reinforce previously taught skills and high-frequency words to support their decoding practice and boost their reading confidence as they progress.
Ramsey County Library has a wide selection of decodable books available in our catalog.