Why Decodable Books Aren't Enough on Their Own to Teach Reading
Decodable books are great tools for practicing reading. They use simple words and patterns, so kids can sound out each word. This helps them feel confident and proud as they read. But if you’re using only decodable books to teach your child to read, it might be time to try something more.
Why? Decodable books can be really helpful, but they’re just one part of learning to read. Here’s why having a full reading plan is super important if we want kids to grow up loving to read and understanding what they read.
What Are Decodable Books, and Why Aren’t They Enough?
Decodable books are designed to let kids practice phonics (learning letter sounds). These books are made of words kids can sound out, which matches the phonics rules they’ve already learned.
This makes decodable books really good for practice. But practice alone isn’t enough to help kids read longer, more challenging words as they move forward. They also need lessons that show them how reading works. A full reading plan, or curriculum, helps kids get a strong start and gives them all the tools they need to grow.
What Decodable Books Can’t Teach: Phonics
Phonics is all about how letters and sounds work together to make words. Decodable books help kids sound out words, but they don’t teach the actual phonics rules.
Phonics lessons teach kids the rules of reading. They show kids how to blend sounds, break words into smaller parts, and recognize tricky patterns. These lessons are like a map that guides kids through each stage of learning to read. Without that map, decodable books don’t have as much power on their own.
Why Phonemic Awareness Matters Before Decoding
Phonemic awareness means understanding sounds in words. It’s knowing how to hear, say, and play with sounds, even before reading them on a page.
Research shows that kids who have strong phonemic awareness often become stronger readers. But decodable books can’t build phonemic awareness on their own. Kids need lessons that focus on hearing and breaking down sounds, making rhymes, and blending sounds to make words. This is all before they’re reading sentences in books.
Practice Without a Plan Isn’t Enough
Think of decodable books as training wheels on a bike. They’re great for practice, but they can’t teach you everything you need to know to ride on your own. That’s where a good curriculum comes in.
A curriculum gives a roadmap for teaching phonics. It shows how to introduce letters and sounds in a way that builds on each skill. It gives structure so kids can move from recognizing sounds to blending them and then reading sentences confidently.
Without this clear path, decodable books can get boring or confusing. Kids might feel stuck or frustrated if they’re reading without learning something new each time.
Moving from Sounds to Fluent Reading
Imagine trying to cook something by only looking at a list of ingredients—without any steps! It would be hard, right? That’s what it’s like using decodable books without phonics lessons.
Decodable books give kids words they can sound out, but without guidance, they don’t show how to move from reading simple words to reading full sentences and stories. A structured curriculum helps kids make this leap, so they can read smoothly and understand what they’re reading.
Decodable Books Are Amazing—When They’re Part of a Bigger Plan
Decodable books work best when paired with goals and a plan. A strong curriculum guides teachers and parents on when and how to use these books to make the most impact.
When decodable books are part of a lesson plan, kids get to practice specific skills they just learned. This makes their practice more useful and helps them grow faster. On their own, though, decodable books might not make as much sense.
A Curriculum is Like a Coach for Young Readers
Think of having a gym membership but no workout plan. You’d probably feel lost or not know what to do! The same thing can happen for kids without a reading plan.
A curriculum is like a reading coach, guiding kids step-by-step through sounds, blending, and reading words in context. With a curriculum, each lesson makes sense, and kids feel confident because they know what to expect next.
Building Confidence with Small Wins
Reading without structure can leave kids feeling lost. But with a curriculum, each lesson becomes a win that boosts their confidence.
With a curriculum that gets a little harder each time, kids feel proud of their progress. They’re not just sounding out words—they’re building reading skills that grow with them. Each lesson builds on the last, so kids feel successful and ready for the next step.
Teachers Need More Than Just Books—They Need Real Support
Teachers love helping kids learn to read, but they often need more than just books to do this well. A good curriculum provides not only books but also lesson plans, activities, and assessments to guide each step.
With a structured reading program, teachers don’t have to guess what comes next. They can focus on teaching and connecting with their students, knowing that the lessons are all planned out.
Why Structured Literacy Is Key and Where Decodable Books Fit
Structured literacy is a teaching approach that guides kids step-by-step. It includes phonics, phonemic awareness, vocabulary, and comprehension. A curriculum brings all of these skills together, blending phonics with decodable books and practice activities.
This approach helps decodable books do what they’re best at—giving kids practice—while other parts of the curriculum give them all the tools they need to succeed.
The Big Picture: What Kids Need to Become Strong Readers
The best curriculum doesn’t just teach phonics or decoding. It teaches all the skills kids need, from sound recognition to understanding the stories they read. Kids need lots of practice with different types of words and sentences to build true fluency.
A curriculum ties all these skills together, helping young readers grow confidently with every lesson. Kids learn to read step-by-step, building skills that will last.k
Ready to Try a Complete Reading Curriculum?
If you’re looking to go beyond books alone, our decodable curriculum might be the answer. It combines phonics, phonemic awareness, and structured literacy, giving kids all the skills they need to read confidently and with understanding. See the difference a full curriculum can make!