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Books for Beginning Independent Reading

The following decodable booklists have been created to support beginning independent reading. 

Decodable text is the type of text that focuses on the written code and presents words to students that follow the phonics concepts that they have been taught. Students are encouraged to use their phonics knowledge to decode (read) words rather than skip or guess words. Using decodable texts is a method that helps all and harms none for beginning readers. The use of decodable text provides a reliable pathway to moving students to accurately and successfully reading authentic literature of their choosing. 

Sam and Stan have a sled. Let's sled on the hill, Stan says. They slip and spin on the hill.

Some of the books on the lists contain more easily decodable features than others. For more complex words included in the text, you will need to help out and read the complex words that contain unknown phonics patterns. It's important to make sure that students are not guessing at these words and know they include patterns that they have not yet learned but will soon learn about.

Titles are available for free checkout at your local public library through the Prospector program or through the hoopla ebook platform. Prospector is a unified catalog of academic, public, and special libraries in Colorado and Wyoming. 

Decodable Books - Step 1

These decodable books include closed syllable patterns. The first words that students learn to read are closed syllables or CVC words. These books are the first step in independent reading. Reading books like these without guessing, relying on the picture, or skipping is the first step in moving students to pick up and read any book they want.

Decodable Books - Step 2

These decodable books include mostly words with closed syllable and silent-e syllable patterns. The first words that students learn to read are closed syllables or CVC words, followed by closed syllable words with blends and digraphs, and then silent-e syllable words. These books are a step towards independent reading of any book of the child's choosing. Reading books like these without guessing, relying on the picture, or skipping is the first step in moving students to pick up and read any book they want.

Decodable Books - Step 3

These decodable books include previously learned concepts of closed syllables and silent e with a new focus of the remaining syllable types: vowel teams, r-controlled, and consonant-le. These books are the next step towards independent reading of any book of the child's choosing. Reading books like these without guessing, relying on the picture, or skipping is the first step in moving students to pick up and read any book they want.

 

Text Types: Decodable, Leveled, & Authentic
This page provides resources on the differences between different text types and their uses in instruction. Different types of text are used for different purposes for beginning and struggling readers. One text might be used for students to practice decoding skills while another text might be used to build background knowledge and vocabulary with the ultimate goal of students successfully reading any book of their choosing. 

 

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