What are DECODABLE READERS? 4 Things to Know!

Decodables. Sounds like something on the back of a cereal box, right? Do you remember those code messages you tried to figure out while you ate your breakfast before heading off to school?

Decodables are often used by teachers and the word is thrown out there online all the time….but how often is it explained to parents?

Decodables are easy, beginning level books with simple words that do not follow too many varied spelling spelling patterns and phonics rules.

In other words, a child reading a decodable reader or passage will not be thrown any curveball (rule-breaker) words. The only exception might be an occasional sight word that cannot be avoided.

Decodables aren’t known for being super interesting! Dr. Seuss made Green Eggs and Ham exciting with his nonsensical style and pictures, but most decodables have super simple pictures so that the words aren’t too easily guessed by looking at the pictures. Generally, that is what we want to avoid. Reading decodables encourages children to focus on the letters and spelling patterns in the words (the codes) to sound out the words.

Although decodables might not be super interesting for adults to read aloud, they play an important role in the growth of beginning readers! How?

1. Decodables empower early readers.

   No one (even a kid) wants to sit down and do something that seems difficult or even impossible. Handing a child a decodable reader or passage gives the child confidence. “I CAN read!”

   When my daughter was new to reading and only reading 3 letter, short vowel words (words with closed syllables), she carried around a simple reader filled with short stories. She took it to bed. She took it to nearly every room in the house to read. It empowered her. She could read it on her own and understand it. There were pictures, but they didn’t necessarily give away the words or encourage guessing.

   On the other hand, random children’s books (that are not decodables) might interest a child with beautiful pictures and interesting stories, but they are likely to include more difficult multi-syllable words that an early reader cannot yet read. These books are better for reading aloud to your child. You can allow your child to look at them independently or even have a shot at reading them. But expecting them to read these types of books when it’s painfully slow and constant struggle after struggle is not going to encourage better reading.

2. Decodables improve fluency.

   When your child is reading, your ultimate goal is not only understanding, but also the ability to read as if you are talking. NOT……LIKE…..THIS. You’re looking for smooth reading. You’re looking for pausing at commas and periods and reading with feeling when there is an exclamation point. If your child has not reached that point, try decodables! It doesn’t correct itself immediately, but with reading and RE-reading, you will see progress. Sometimes you don’t notice progress if you’re reading daily with your child—particularly if your child is progressing slowly. Therefore, I recommend that a parent record their chid reading a book or passage at the beginning of the month, practice daily, and record their child again at the end of the month. The progress might be easier to notice that way.

3. Decodables improve phonics skills.

   Sometimes children get into a bad habit of guessing, adding letters to words or even deleting letters. Practicing decodables where the words are sounded out with easier phonics rules gives the opportunity for the child to slow down and pay close attention to the spelling of the word.

   Notice in the example below how most of the words have 3 sounds, and the vowels are short.

Image from “Run Bug Run” decodable sample.

Once a child is fluent in this level, words with additional letters and sounds might be introduced with blends, such as “STand, FLip, taSK.”

One excellent example of gradually using decodable stories is RUN, BUG, RUN. The homeschool curriculum, All About Reading, systematically introduces the phonics skills with stories that go along with the rules the children have learned. This book is just one of 3 collections of stories in LEVEL 1 of the program. There are more levels for children who need decoables for a longer period of time.

Still, there are other companies that produce material that gradually get more difficult and make use of decodables. Whether or not you homeschool, you absolutely can purchase the materials online for straightforward help with your child’s reading.

Sometimes you can find passages or small printable decodables on websites such as Teachers Pay Teachers. Here is just one example.

4. Decodables aren’t forever.

Yes, decodables are boring for parents or older children. They are just for training and practice and they aren’t meant to be used forever. In fact, many children catch on to the idea of reading, breaking words down into parts and syllables and end up no longer needing decodables. They “graduate” to more difficult and interesting books as they learn more phonics rules and are able to sound out and figure out new words they encounter.

Remember that so much is going on when a child is learning to read: paying attention to the letters, syllables and spelling but also the context and comprehension! So, if your child is not catching on as quickly as others he might need systematic reading instruction, such as Orton Gillingham methods. If you’d like to find out more, check out these videos I made.

If your child is not yet reading, check out “A Busy Mom’s Guide to Teaching Your Child to Read.” I show you simple steps you can take to make sure you are laying a foundation for reading.

Remember, YOU are your child’s most influential teacher.