Decoding Texts: Using The Best Decodable Books

What Are Decodables & Why Use Them?

Relying on research like The Simple View of Reading and Scarborough’s Reading Rope, most experts are finally agreeing that a structured approach to literacy is the only way to teach reading effectively.

According to The Orton Gillingham Academy, the structured approach is “a direct, explicit, multisensory, structured, sequential, diagnostic, and prescriptive way to teach literacy when reading, writing, and spelling.”

Part of this structured approach is that we reply on explicit and systematic phonics instruction.

To read research on using decodable texts, we recommend this study from Heidi Meiser entitled, ​Decodable text: A review of what we know​.

We also recommend this informative webinar from Dr. Maria Murrey, President of The Reading League, entitled ​“Using Decodable Texts: Practical Things Teachers Need to Know.”​

What Are Decodables?

Decodable books are books written with phonetically regular words, meaning that the majority of the words in the books can be decoded using the phonics concepts students have learned. Guessing at words is eliminated.

Instead, kids apply their knowledge of letter-sound relationshiops using decodables for targeted and intentional practice.

Decodable books follow a scope and sequence. This means they begin with basic phonics concepts, with many focusing on simple sentences comprised of CVC words, words with digraphs and a few irregular heart words.

The books then progress with added skills, becoming more complex to include words with consonant blends, long vowels, VCe words, vowel teams, and multisyllabic words.

Decodable texts are also called controlled texts or accountable texts.

Why Use Them?

Although there isn’t a ton of research about decodables (yet), decodable texts are certainly a valuable instructional tool within the structured literacy classroom.

While a strong emphasis on phonics is essential, reading connected text is an equally important component. Too often, phonics is taught using isolated activities and drills. But by bringing in decodables texts, kids can read independently, using real books! They give our students real and meaningful reading experiences.

Decodables are designed so that kids can apply the knowledge they’ve been taught by decoding words and reading familiar high-frequency words they’ve been taught. They also ensure children back to reinforce previously taught skills and rules. They set students up for success while boosting confidence.

Decodable books can be re-read to practice fluency and build comprehension, too!

One study by Cheatham and Allor (2012) found decodability is a “critical characteristic of early reading text as it increases the likelihood that students will use a decoding strategy and results in immediate benefits, particularly in regard to accuracy.” 

This means that we teach kids from the earliest of ages to rely on decoding. This is the only strategy for reading in the early grades.

How to Maximize Instruction Using Decodables

👉 Match the skill to the book.

Repeated opportunities within decodable texts are necessary for students to achieve success, especially those with reading disabilities like dyslexia. (If you need support for your struggling child, check out the dyslexia therapy we offer!)

Many sets of decodable readers only include 1-2 books per phonics skill. Because kids often need practice with more than 1-2 books per skill before moving on, a compilation of various sets from different publishers and resources is usually necessary.

The University of Florida Literacy Institute (UFLI) has created a helpful document that takes each phonics skill and lists the decodable books that match.

👉 Choose Engaging Texts.

Because you want to provide authentic experiences for your readers, it’s important to choose decodables that engage readers. They should be books that can be read over and over again to build fluency.

👉 Choose Books that Make Sense.

Look at the quality of books before using them with students. As “Science of Reading (SOR)” and “Orton-Gillingham (OG)” have become hot buzzwords, more and more publishers are hopping on the bandwagon, so to speak.

Some sellers and organizations may not understand the theory behind these approaches and thus their products do not reflect consistently aligned resources.

Be sure to read reviews, view previews, and check the level of OG training a seller or organization has completed before purchasing (You may want to purchase from only OG-certified sellers).

👉 Rely on Decodables with Emergent Readers

In K-2 classrooms, decodable books should be used consistently for reading instruction. Since they promote decoding as the only reading strategy, it is essential for emergent readers to use only decodables.

Of course, this doesn’t mean they can’t ever read other types of books like trade books or leveled readers. These books can and should be used in adult-directed reading experiences, but not used for reading instruction.

Once kids have ‘cracked the code,’ they can begin reading other books for reading instruction.

Lousia Moats, creator of LETRS, says that decodables should be used “until the student can use most of the regular correspondences to read word accurately and the student has a sight vocabulary of…several thousand words.”

FREE Decodable Options

If you’re looking for free decodable readers, there are TONS available! Read one of our most popular posts where we list links to hundreds of FREE decodable texts!

It’s the ultimate list of high-quality decodable texts, with links to 15 different websites sharing decodable resources for FREE!

Decodable Readers List 📚

Below are the options available for high-quality decodable readers. Many publishers are now seeing the benefits and are writing and publishing their own.

This is a growing list with our favorites! If you have others you enjoy, please leave a comment so we can add it!

IMSE Decodable Readers

I love the IMSE decodable texts, and I use them almost every day with my students. There are three sets with various levels of complexity for an affordable price.

They come in two versions: you can buy them as a downloadable file… but you better have your heavy-duty stapler ready! Optionally, you can purchase pre-made books printed on cardstock in color.

If you purchase the pdf version, know that putting together these books requires lots of paper, ink, and time, especially if you’re making multiple copies for small group reading instruction. But these are great quality for the price.

As a bonus, each book includes a list of comprehension questions to use after reading.

Heggerty

Heggerty has two really great options for decodable readers. The Frog Series (seen below) is geared for grades K-1.

As a teacher, I love the engaging stories and colorful imagery. They make for impactful, engaging reading for young learners!

They also have the Toucan Series (seen below), which is geared for students in grades 2-4. These are bright, beautiful, and engaging books that are brand new in 2022.

If you’re a reading specialist or special education teacher, I would not suggest these books due to higher word count and text complexity. They’d work best for homeschooling or for classroom teachers working with students on or above grade level.

Heggerty also has new decodable classroom libraries, although these are pretty pricey.

SPIRE Decodables

SPIRE has an huge selection of high quality decodable readers, with over 120 titles available.

These books are simple with black and white pictures, but clearly focus on phonetic concepts within the storyline.

Raz-Plus Phonics Lessons & Decodable Texts

A yearly subscription is required, but with that is included decodable books for grades K-2. You can use these resources digitally or print the books and assemble them.

High Noon

These sets from High Noon are high-interest books that come in both fiction and non-fiction. In addition, to beginner sound-it-out books, they also offer phonics-based chapter books focusing on various higher-level phonetic skills.

Flyleaf

I do not have paper copies of these decodable books myself, but I have used their free online resources over the past year or so. They’re awesome!

The texts are designed for pre-k through 3rd grade, and their website states that they “provide beginning and struggling readers with abundant opportunities to transfer their newly acquired phonics knowledge to meaningful, engaging, and complex narratives, informational texts, and poetry.”

Geodes

The Geodes books are beautifully done, high-interest texts with rich themes in history and the arts.

Kids build extensive background knowledge while reading high-interest decodable books with beautiful illustrations.

The best part about Geodes is the Book Notes that are provided with every book, providing guidance and teaching tips to make instruction extra effective.

Bob Books

An oldie, but a goodie! Parents love these affordable books, and many public libraries carry them too!

Charge Into Reading Book Set

These newly published books are the perfect addition to your decodable book collection. They reinforce specific phonics skills using engaging storylines and bright illustrations.

Bonus: Each book includes multiple pages of sound-specific activities that reinforce phonological awareness and phonics skills.

My students love getting to the end of the books just so they can practice these skills in a fun way!

Conclusion

Using decodable texts allow students to begin to experience success as they decode unknown words. Use them and you’ll see your students begin to find joy in reading independently and comprehending texts!

More on Decodables:

• Visit this page from Reading Rockets
• Watch this Webinar by Wiley Blevins “Choosing & Using Decodable Texts” and buy his book.

For more recommendations, visit The Reading League for their recommended resources for decodable texts.

Related Posts

• Decodable Sentences for EVERY Phonics Skill
• Syllable Types Bundle
• Top 10 Orton-Gillingham Training Options
• Context Clues Anchor Chart