Teaching is ever-changing, research is evolving, and new methods come to the surface. And this often makes things challenging for teachers because reputations change. Decodable texts are one of the topics that get a bad reputation, and there are mixed reviews on whether they’re beneficial. like with other resources and materials, there are low-quality decodable books. This can make them boring and unnecessary, but the key is to find engaging books that match the patterns you are teaching.
First and foremost, let’s visit what decodable books are and what they are used for. You can learn more about decodable texts and how to use them in this post. Decodable text is a text that contains phonics patterns our students are familiar with. It is controlled and follows a general sequence. Every decodable text will have a phonetic pattern that is repeated and can be identified by your students. It can focus on specific sounds or word families.
I am team useful for decodable text because they are essential for beginning readers. After all, the books are sequenced to match the letter and sound relationships that students already know. Now don’t get me wrong, there are times when students can find decodable texts boring, but I have seen rapid success with understanding phonics skills. The primary purpose of using decodable books is to give students practice with phonics patterns, which is incredibly useful.
Setting my students up for success is key, and it is the most important thing in my classroom. Nobody likes to fail, and nobody wants to fail when trying their hardest to learn a crucial skill. As students learn to read decodable texts, remove the pressure, and students can practice.
But most importantly, they feel confident in the skills they are practicing, and I don’t know about you, but when I feel confident, I’m going to keep going! And that is what I want from my students. I want them to keep going.
Some of the main reasons I find decodable texts useful are:
- Perfect for independent reading or partner work
- Easy to bring home, and parents will appreciate that!
- Requires students to use previous knowledge
Using decodable text is beneficial for students when it comes to mastering skills like phonics patterns and beginning blends. These are the foundational skills they need before moving to more advanced reading skills. Using decodable texts or passages consistently helps students successfully build fluency and develop strong reading strategies.
One of the most common things I hear centered around decodable texts is that they are boring and repetitive. Let’s be honest, there are boring and repetitive picture books, but those books are my opinion, and I instead choose books that are more engaging for my students.
The same thing with decodable texts. You can find text that is fun and engaging. Sometimes all it takes is a little tweaking, and they’re great. Saying all decodable texts are boring is a very generalized statement. If you have a student above reading levels, then sure decodable texts might be boring for that one student. But, if you have a student struggling to read or a student with dyslexia, decodable texts will instead lead them to feel successful.
When you integrate skills using decodable texts, like I do with my Phonics Mats, reading is interactive and engaging! Here’s one in action. Can’t you see your primary students loving these?
While some individuals may argue that decodable readers are boring, they are meant to target specific skills. And years and years ago, decodable books were extremely repetitive, and they didn’t make a ton of sense, but they’ve come a long way.
Decodable books are not texts that a child will read forever. They are just a piece of their reading journey. They play a vital role in encouraging students to decode and develop necessary orthographic mapping skills. Decodable texts are typically used for a few short months while students learn to decode, and blend sounds together. And remember, decodable texts are not used exclusively, so our students are getting exposure to other text types.
The most significant benefit I see with decodable texts is the joy it brings students when they are successful, and that success leads to an overall love of reading. I hope this post helped you understand the usefulness of using decodable texts.
