Learning and reading are the building blocks in the early stages of childhood. And learning or reading is not possible without helping the child get information and awareness that are related to reading. For a better understanding of the related instructions, students and parents make use of decodable texts. These are the type of texts that are used to understand the reading instructions right from the beginning. Randomly developing the reading habit is easier but with instructions, it is better for the students to adapt to the instructions and what is expected out of them by the end of the reading activity.
How does a decodable text work?
To make use of the decodable texts and include them in your plan of action for the children, it is better to understand its sequencing and working. The decodable texts are carefully sequenced to progressively incorporate words. These words act in a consistent way when it comes to their relationship with the letters, as well as, their sounds. As a new reader, you will have to help the child in identifying the sounds and associating the letters and words connected to the sound. Reading is incomplete without having clarity of the connection and implementing them from small to big words while developing an interest and comfort while learning how to read and decode.
For whom are the decodable text sources available?
The decodable text sources can be used by a variety of age groups of students. The decodable text sources can help in enhancing the reading and understanding abilities of students belonging to grade 2-grade 8. Also, teens and children belonging to a senior age group can also make use of these. There is a wide list that is available to suit the age group, understandability, flexibility, and decoding needs of children.
What is the purpose of a decodable text?
The main purpose of making use of the decodable texts is to help the students have their fair share of practicing. There are specific phonics patterns that are a part of the decodable text sources and hence, for the students to be thorough with them. As they say, that practice makes a man perfect, with the help of the decodable text sources, students get used to working with the instructions, and hence, it plays a major role for them to adapt to the passage and another assignment requirement as they grow up and move forward with the grades and reading complexity.
Once the instructor or teacher begins with teaching the students about the new phonics patterns and the students begin to implement them in their reading routine, the emphasis is likely to be heavy. These have an upper hand on the phonics pattern that has been taught to them in the early childhood learning stages. For a proper understanding and review of these patterns, the students are taught decodable texts. It is imperative for the teachers to make use of the correct text sources that are credible, as well as, reliable.
How to use the text sources?
The best way to use the decodable text sources are as follows:
- Use a highlighter or circle the word that has the target phonics pattern. This will help the child understand the difference between a phonic concept, as well as, the actual reading
- The next step is an important one. The idea of making use of the decodable text sources is incomplete without this step. You should always opt for discussing the meaning of the text that has been presented. Don’t skip this step in any case
- Don’t go for a single reading of the text. Always encourage the children to opt for reading the text sources multiple times. This will also help in the fluency practice of the child. This can be done both at school and at home with parents’ help.
Some reliable decodable text sources
Here are 4 decodable text sources for children belonging to different age groups:
Young readers
- BOB books
- Dog on a logbooks
- Half-pint readers
- Miss Rhonda’s Readers
- Superkids
Grade 3–8
- High Noon fantasy series
- High Noon Moon dog series
- High Noon sound out chapter books
- Voyager Sopris Supercharged readers
- Simple words Decodable chapter books
For students of all age groups
- All about reading
- PhonicBooks
- Piper Books
- Spalding readers
- Superbook
Teens and adults
Saddleback TERL Phonics Book sets
Teen and adult phonics (TAP) library
Conclusion
If the child is able to complete the full decodable text source, he/she can make use of the phonics knowledge, as well as, the word analysis skills in the best way possible. The child will inculcate a habit of easily decoding the words that he/she is not familiar with. Also, once the child will begin with decoding words in the book, it will boost the confidence child. Also, this will enhance the fluency to adapt to various reading strategies.
