The Benefits of Fully Decodable Books

Decodable books have become increasingly popular in early literacy instruction, and for good reason. Fully decodable books, like Target Practice Readers (TPRs), provide young learners with the opportunity to apply their phonics knowledge in a structured and meaningful way. In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of using fully decodable books and why they are essential for teaching early reading skills.

What Are Decodable Books? 
Decodable books are texts that use words made up of letter-sounds that students have already been taught or that they already know. This means that children can decode the majority, if not all, of the words in the book. Fully decodable books like TPRs are particularly useful because they allow students to apply their phonics skills as they read, rather than relying on memorisation or guessing.
The Benefits of Fully Decodable Books

1. Application of Phonics Knowledge: Decodable books provide a direct application of phonics knowledge. As students encounter words made up of sounds they have learned, they are able to practice blending and decoding in real reading contexts. This helps solidify their understanding of letter-sound relationships.
   
2. Building Reading Confidence: When students are able to successfully decode the words in a book, they feel a sense of accomplishment. Fully decodable books ensure that students are working at a level they can manage, which builds their confidence as readers. This is especially important in the early stages of reading when self-esteem can make or break a child’s progress.
   
3. Improving Reading Fluency: By practicing with fully decodable texts, students improve their fluency. As they become more familiar with blending and decoding, their reading speed and accuracy increase. Decodable books provide the perfect platform for repeated practice, helping students develop into fluent readers.
   
4. Supporting Independent Reading: Because the texts are aligned with the letter-sounds students have learned, they can read these books independently, without relying on help from teachers or parents. This independence reinforces the skills they’ve learned and gives them the opportunity to practice reading on their own, which is a critical step toward literacy.
   

Why Fully Decodable Books Like TPRs Matter 
Decodable books are not just another tool in a teacher’s toolkit; they are essential for structured literacy instruction. TPRs, in particular, offer a focused approach to decoding, allowing students to practice specific letter-sounds in context. This direct application helps students make the critical connections between phonics knowledge and reading fluency.
The benefits of using fully decodable books are clear—they support phonics instruction, build confidence, improve fluency, and foster independent reading. Target Practice Readers offer these advantages and more, making them an invaluable resource for teaching early reading skills.