For a long time, I didn’t understand the real purpose of decodable books.

Now I know that they serve an essential role in helping kids move from phonics instruction to fluent reading.

Here’s how it works.

When we teach phonics explicitly, we’re showing students how the sounds and letters connect. But learning phonics rules isn’t enough on its own.

Students need a place to practice.

Decodable books give them that place. The text is carefully written to include the sound-spellings they’ve already learned—so they can apply those skills in context.

Each time students successfully decode a word, their brains strengthen the connection between sounds and letters. With enough of that practice, they begin to recognize many words automatically.

That’s how real fluency develops.

The more I learn about this process, the more grateful I am for the shift we’re seeing toward high-quality decodable books—stories that are engaging, meaningful, and actually enjoyable to read.

If you haven’t yet downloaded my free decodable books, I’d love for you to check them out. And yes, there are 7 brand new titles waiting for you!

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Once you start using decodable books regularly, you might wonder how long to keep using them. That's what I unpack in this post:
​When Should Children Stop Using Decodable Books?​

Anna

P.S. Decodable text is the bridge between phonics instruction and fluent reading—and when we give kids that bridge, they cross it with confidence. Download dozens of free, professionally illustrated decodables here.​

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