What are Decodable Readers?

If you're a parent or teacher supporting a young reader, you've likely come across the term "decodable readers." But what exactly are they, and why are they such a powerful tool in early literacy education? This post will break down what decodable readers are, how they work, and why they are vital for children learning to read, especially those who struggle with literacy.

By the end of this article, you'll have a clear understanding of decodable readers and how to integrate them into your teaching or parenting strategies.

What Are Decodable Readers?

If you are a parent of a young child starting school you are probably familiar with “home readers”. Decodable readers are similar to home-reading style books, in that they are small, contain simple stories, and are designed for children who are just beginning to learn how to read.

Decodable readers are books specially designed to help beginning readers learn how to read by focusing on phonics. They use controlled vocabulary that is aligned with the phonics rules that children are learning. This means that the words in these books are "decodable"—children can sound them out using the phonics knowledge they have acquired. They gradually become more difficult as children gain more understanding of phonics.

Key Features of Decodable Readers

• Phonics-Based: The words in decodable readers are tied to phonics patterns.
• Gradual Progression: They start simple and become more complex as the child’s phonics skills improve.
• High-Frequency Words: They often incorporate common high frequency words that are essential for fluent reading.

Get our free decodable reader set here 

Why Are Decodable Readers Important for Early Learners?

Decodable readers provide children with a strong foundation in reading. Instead of guessing words from pictures or context, children are taught to read by decoding each sound in a word. 

There has been a huge shift over the past few years towards the “Science of Reading” and away from other ideologies of teaching reading. If you have older children, or even thinking back to your own school days you may remember being encouraged to guess words, to keep reading the sentence when you got stuck, to being prompted to look at the picture to infer meaning, rather than just reading the letters on the page!

Developing the decoding skill of in reading is critical because it helps children to develop the ability to read any text confidently and fluently -  a key predictor of future academic success.

How Decodable Readers Differ from Leveled Readers

While both decodable and leveled readers are used in classrooms, they serve different purposes. 

Leveled readers are books categorised by difficulty to match a child's reading ability and comprehension level. While leveled readers are commonly used in classrooms to support diverse reading abilities, they often rely on a child using context clues and pictures to guess unfamiliar words rather than decoding them phonetically. Leveled readers are not an ideal way to support beginning readers or students with learning difficulties.

How Do Decodable Readers Work?

Decodable readers work by aligning with the phonics lessons that a child is learning. For example, if a child is learning the sound “m” as in "mat," a decodable reader will include words like “mat,” “sat,” and “cat” to help the child practice that particular sound. This method reinforces the phonics rules being taught, allowing children to practice reading in a structured, supportive way.

The Phonics Focus in Decodable Readers

Each decodable reader is constructed to match the child's reading development. For example, early books might only include words with certain letters like S,A,T, P, I and N, while more advanced readers introduce complex blends and digraphs (like "ch”,  "sh", “ea”, “ir” and “ie”).

It is not true that children only use decodable readers in the foundational years, advanced decodable readers are suitable for students up until around Grade 3 and 4. Students with learning difficulties like Dyslexia, benefit from decodable readers until secondary school and there are some fantastic chapter books and novels being created that are decodable.

Who Benefits from Decodable Readers?

Decodable readers are beneficial for all children learning to read but are especially valuable for those with Dyslexia or other learning difficulties. Because these readers reinforce phonics rules, they give children the opportunity to master the building blocks of reading in a clear, systematic way.

Children with Dyslexia and Decodable Readers

Children with Dyslexia often struggle with phonological processing, making decodable readers a key tool for them. By focusing on structured phonics, these books help children with Dyslexia practice decoding sounds in a manageable way. This consistent practice improves their ability to read fluently over time. 

When Should You Introduce Decodable Readers?

Decodable readers can be introduced as soon as children start learning phonics. In many schools, this happens in preschool or kindergarten. It's important to ensure that children have developed pre-reading skills before phonics and decodable texts are introduced. 

How to Use Decodable Readers at Home or in the Classroom

Tips for Parents

• Start Simple: Begin with decodable readers that match your child's current phonics level.
• Practice Makes Perfect: Encourage your child to read the same decodable book several times until they can read it fluently.
• Praise Progress: Celebrate small wins, such as successfully decoding a difficult word or reading a sentence without help.

Tips for Teachers

• Pair with Phonics Lessons: Use decodable readers to reinforce phonics lessons being taught in the classroom.
• Group Reading: Encourage children to read decodable texts in pairs or groups to foster collaborative learning.
• Track Progress: Use the structured nature of decodable readers to monitor each child's progress in decoding.

Common Misconceptions About Decodable Readers

"Aren't Decodable Readers Too Repetitive?"

One common criticism of decodable readers is that they can feel repetitive, with simple words being used frequently. While it’s true that decodable readers are structured to emphasize phonics, the repetition is actually a strength. It allows children to gain confidence and mastery of phonics skills before moving on to more complex texts. Remember it takes lots of practise to learn to read - it isn’t an innate skill.

"Don't Children Need More Interesting Stories?"

Another misconception is that decodable readers are boring. However, many publishers like Wise Owl Tuition are creating engaging, fun stories while still focusing on phonics. The key is to find decodable books that balance phonics instruction with engaging storylines and interesting illustrations.

Where to Find Decodable Readers

There are numerous resources for finding high-quality decodable readers for both classrooms and homes. Many online platforms, including publishers and educational websites, offer free or affordable decodable books.

Recommended Decodable Reader Sets

• Wise Owl Tuition’s Decodable Readers: At Wise Owl Tuition, we provide decodable readers that cater to different levels of reading proficiency. Check out our decodable reader collection here. 

        Get our free decodable reader set here 

• Speld SA has a collection of decodable readers, that are available digitally for free, however these don’t follow as tight a progression.

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5 Things Every Parent Needs to Know to Nuture Little Bookworms

The Secret Reason Sight Words Suck and What to Teach Instead

The 5 Best Free Educational Apps to Boost Your Child's Learning