Decodable books are a type of text used in beginning reading instruction. They are carefully sequenced to progressively incorporate words that are consistent with the letters and corresponding phonemes that have been taught to the reader. Decodable books are written with a focus on a particular phonetic pattern or word family, and each book is written using specific sound-letter correspondences that students have learned. They are designed to help beginning readers or struggling readers because the words are easier to decode. Decodable books vary in quality in terms of the sequence in which sounds are introduced, the rigor of the controlled language, the richness of stories under severe sound limitations, the appearance, length in pages, and the pace of progression.
Decodable books are different from predictable texts, which rely on repetitive language and illustrations to help children guess at words. Decodable books are progressive, and as more advanced phonics knowledge and tricky words are introduced, the books will reflect this in the texts. Decodable books are great tools for early readers or struggling readers because the words are easier to decode, and the repeated readings of decodable books help beginning readers with their automaticity or fluency of word recognition, specifically in phonics patterns and high frequency words.
Decodable books are used to reinforce students decoding skills and reading fluency. They allow students to practice and apply the letter-sound relationships they are learning. It is important to determine what letter-sound knowledge the students know and what tricky words they can automatically recall when using decodable books in the classroom or as a parent reading with your child. Decodable books should match the word study or phonics instruction, which could be taught whole group, while the leveled books match the individual reading plan of the students.
In summary, decodable books are simple books that are written for the beginning reader and contain the specific grapheme-phoneme correspondences students have learned. They are designed to help beginning readers or struggling readers because the words are easier to decode, and they are used to reinforce students decoding skills and reading fluency. Decodable books are different from predictable texts, which rely on repetitive language and illustrations to help children guess at words[[2]](https://www.readingrockets.org/topics/curriculum-and-instruction/articles/what-are-decodable-books-and-why-are-they-i...
