What curriculum can I use to help my child learn how to become a fluent reader? Many homeschool parents find themselves searching for phonics resources that not only teach letter-sound relationships but also provide meaningful practice opportunities. The challenge lies in finding materials that bridge the gap between learning phonics rules and applying them to actual reading.
This is where decodable readers become essential tools in your homeschool phonics curriculum. Designed specifically to reinforce the phonetic patterns children are learning, decodable readers transform abstract rules into concrete reading experiences.
The American Language series is a traditional phonics-based set of readers that integrates decodable texts with rich vocabulary, equipping parents to guide their children from phonogram mastery to reading fluency. Amy Jones, Scribblers curriculum developer for Classical Conversations, helps decode the mystery of reading fluency and explains why decodable readers are crucial for emerging readers.
The Secret Decoder Ring and the Young Reader
In the 1960s, secret decoder rings were all the rage. For young detective types, that is. All a spy had to do was slip on the magic ring, give the lettered disc a spin, and, aha, the coded message was unlocked.
Of course, decoder rings could not just be found anywhere. Moms had to be wheedled into buying “healthy” breakfast cereals containing the highly prized and much-coveted plastic ring. Diving deep into a box of cereal, young sleuths would find the ring, decipher the hidden message from the back of the box, and solve the mystery—all before the last bite of cereal.
In many ways, a young detective deciphering a mysterious message is similar to a young reader decoding an unfamiliar word. Both have unreadable messages to translate; both have symbols to decipher; and both have the delight of solving a mystery.
The only difference is that the young reader doesn’t need a fancy ring, just the alphabet and a basic understanding of letter sounds. In fact, most young children, who have been taught phonics, have memorized the seventy sound combinations that our twenty-six letters make and are beginning to discover the satisfaction of deciphering the printed word.
Why Practice Is Essential for Early Readers
However, fledgling word detectives need practice. In addition to reviewing common phonics lists and rules, young readers need opportunities to discover how their newly acquired skills can be used in meaningful contexts. Decoding one secret message is not enough practice to become a spy. This is true with decoding words.
Simply memorizing seventy phonograms and approximately thirty rules for pronunciation, spelling, and language comprehension (the heart of The Writing Road to Reading phonics curriculum) is not enough. Young readers need a tool that:
- Emphasizes a child’s understanding of newly acquired sounds and skills
- Recognizes how print is arranged on a page
- Aligns with the phonetic concepts he or she is learning
One of the resources to practice this essential decoding skill is the use of the decodable reader.
What Are Decodable Readers?
Decodable readers provide structured opportunities for early readers to practice their letter/sound combinations and their basic phonetic vocabulary in meaningful contexts.
These simple texts also provide opportunities for children to practice pre-reading skills, such as:
- Left-to-right directionality
- Sentence structure and punctuation
- Types and purposes of sentences
- Story structure
Decodable readers introduce reading concepts that build confidence, improve reading accuracy, and reinforce decoding skills. They are designed to be used during the early reading phase and should be faded as soon as children are ready to tackle authentic texts, such as classic read-aloud books.
How Decodable Readers Build Reading Fluency
As we explored in our previous articles on classical phonics instruction and patterns in language learning, The Writing Road to Reading teaches children to recognize the seventy phonograms that form the foundation of English reading and spelling.
Decodable readers provide the essential practice ground where these phonograms come alive in actual words, sentences, and stories. When children encounter a decodable text that uses only the phonograms they’ve already mastered, they experience the profound satisfaction of independent reading.
There are no mystery words requiring guesswork or picture clues. Every word can be decoded using their growing phonetic knowledge. This builds both competence and confidence.
The Difference Between Decodable Readers and Basal Readers
Basal readers expose early readers to a broader range of skills, such as comprehension and vocabulary. Basal readers are progressive in nature and designed to be used for several years. However, since they are mainly compilations of texts from various sources, students may not find the controlled thematic material as inviting as an authentic text written for the purpose of exploring a subject or telling a story.
In contrast, decodable readers:
- Use only phonograms and spelling patterns the child has been explicitly taught
- Minimize sight words and irregular spellings until the appropriate lesson
- Require the child to apply phonetic knowledge rather than guess from context
- Progress systematically from simple to complex phonetic patterns
- Reinforce the connection between handwriting, spelling, and reading
Spalding’s The Writing Road to Reading does not favor the extended use of basal readers, reasoning that students who have acquired a phonics-based knowledge are well prepared to decode vocabulary and are equipped to read most well-written classic books or informative texts. In fact, Spalding’s The Writing Road to Reading includes a list of recommended classic books for young readers to explore as they tackle in their late-stage decodable readers.
Choosing Quality Decodable Readers for Your Homeschool Phonics Curriculum
As young reading detectives are ready to advance their phonics skills, it’s time to search for dependable decodable readers. Fortunately, parents are not required to purchase a box of sugared cereal!
However, because not all decodable texts are created equal, parents may want to consider a few key questions:
- Do the readers match the phonics-based scope and sequence that we are using?
- Do the readers include ample reading practice for each phonetic concept?
- Do the readers follow a sequential introduction for each phonics concept?
- Is the print easy to read and arranged on the page clearly?
- Are the stories engaging and wholesome?
- Are the illustrations child-friendly and inviting?
Based on these considerations, Classical Conversations recommends the American Language Series readers. These traditional phonics-based readers are filled with engaging stories that are family-centered and wholesome. The language and vocabulary are carefully sequenced to encourage the practice of decoding skills and to provide lots of practice with each skill. Each story’s length is manageable for early readers. This six-set series covers the phonetic skills of simple short vowel words, consonant clusters, silent e words, controlled vowels, vowel digraphs, and diphthongs. These readers are available in the Classical Conversations bookstore.
Frequently Asked Questions About Decodable Readers
What is a decodable reader?
A decodable reader is a book specifically designed for early readers that uses only phonetic patterns and phonograms the child has already been taught. Unlike regular books, decodable readers require children to decode words using their phonics knowledge rather than guessing from pictures or context clues.
What is the difference between decodable readers and leveled readers?
Decodable readers focus exclusively on phonetic patterns the child knows and require decoding skills. Leveled readers (basal readers) include sight words, context clues, and picture support, allowing children to guess unfamiliar words. Decodable readers build true phonetic mastery while leveled readers emphasize comprehension and vocabulary exposure.
When should I use decodable readers with my child?
Use decodable readers during the early reading phase (typically ages 5-7) when children are first learning phonograms and phonics rules. Continue until your child can confidently decode most words in authentic texts like classic children’s books. Most children transition away from decodable readers within 1-2 years of systematic phonics instruction.
Do decodable readers work better than other reading methods?
Research shows decodable readers significantly improve reading accuracy and decoding skills in beginning readers. A 2024 meta-analysis published in the Literacy Journal found that decodable texts improve phonetic mastery and reading confidence more effectively than mixed-approach readers during the critical early literacy phase.
What decodable readers work with The Writing Road to Reading?
The American Language Series readers are specifically designed to align with The Writing Road to Reading phonics sequence. These six-book sets progress systematically from short vowel words through consonant clusters, silent e, controlled vowels, vowel digraphs, and diphthongs, matching the Spalding method’s scope and sequence.
Unlocking the Gift of Literacy, One Phonogram at a Time
From the first secret decoder ring to the reading of a complete book, discovering the gift of language is a marvelous and delightful journey for both parents and children. Decodable readers serve as essential stepping stones on this path, providing young readers with opportunities to practice, apply, and celebrate their growing phonetic knowledge.
When paired with the systematic instruction found in The Writing Road to Reading, decodable readers transform abstract phonics rules into concrete reading success. They honor how God designed children to learn through patterns and practice, building confidence one decoded word at a time.
As we explored throughout this three-part series, from understanding the classical foundations of phonics instruction to discovering the patterns embedded in language, effective literacy instruction requires both systematic teaching and meaningful practice.
For homeschool families seeking a phonics curriculum classical in its approach and proven in its results, The Writing Road to Reading combined with quality decodable readers offers a time-tested path. Your child doesn’t need a magic decoder ring to unlock the mysteries of reading. They need the right tools, patient instruction, and plenty of practice. With these elements in place, the once-mysterious coded messages on the page transform into stories, knowledge, and wonder.
Continue Your Journey with The Writing Road to Reading Series:
- Part 1: Classical Phonics Instruction: How The Writing Road to Reading Complements Homeschool Curriculum
- Part 2: Patterns—Unlocking the Mysteries of Language with Phonics
Explore More Reading and Phonics Resources:
- How to Teach Phonics to Preschoolers: The Classical Approach
- Three Steps to Interest Your Child in Reading
- The Joy of Reading Aloud
Bortins, Leigh. 2025. “Words Aptly Spoken | American Language Series.” YouTube. January 9, 2025. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zzo0mqfHEE.
“Decodable Readers vs. Leveled Readers – Why Are Decodable Readers the Best for Reading Instruction? – Structured Literacy.” 2024. Structured Literacy. March 25, 2024. https://www.structuredliteracy.com/decodable-readers-vs-leveled-readers-why-are-decodable-readers-the-best-for-reading-instruction/.
Nelson, Guyla. 2019. “The American Language Series.” Cathyduffyreviews.com. January 4, 2019. https://cathyduffyreviews.com/homeschool-reviews-core-curricula/phonics-reading/phonics-reading-programs/the-american-language-series#.
Odo, Dennis Murphy. 2024. “The Use of Decodable Texts in the Teaching of Reading in Children without Reading Disabilities: A Meta‐Analysis.” Literacy 58 (3). https://doi.org/10.1111/lit.12368.
Schwartz, Sarah. “What Is a Basal Reader, and Why Are They Controversial?” Education Week, October 20, 2025. https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/what-is-a-basal-reader-and-why-are-they-controversial/2025/10.
Spalding, Romalda Bishop and Mary E North. 2012. The Writing Road to Reading : The Spalding Method for Teaching Speech, Spelling, Writing, and Reading. New York, Ny: Collins Reference, An Imprint Of HarperCollins Publishers.
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