Decoding is the process of sounding out words by applying phonetic rules (the sounds made by letters or groups of letters) to recognize and pronounce words. A decodable text is a type of reading material designed to help early readers practice and reinforce their phonics and decoding skills, and to develop the foundational skills needed for proficient reading.
A truly decodable text is designed as a part of a systematic progression, which introduces one skill at a time and builds upon the previous skills that have been taught. Each skill falls within their predictable patterns and rules.
A quality decodable collection includes a strategic and scaffolded scope and sequence, which outlines the progression of each skill that is taught (where one skill builds on the last), and is aligned with common research-based practices.
Decodable texts are meant to align with the direct phonics instruction a student has received. An individual text is specifically chosen for a reader and provides an opportunity to practice the skills previously learned, so that a proficient decoder can successfully read the entire text.
Tricky words, heart words, or high-frequency words — whatever the phrase used to describe common words that are not decodable (such as “a,” “the,” “and,” “is,” “of”) — are previewed prior to reading the decodable text.
Decodable texts play a crucial role in early literacy development. By providing a structured and systematic approach to reading, these texts empower readers to build essential phonetic and decoding skills.
A balanced approach to advancing students’ literacy includes decodable instruction alongside comprehension and vocabulary support, through engaging books that promote a love of reading.
Mackin is pleased to feature these exciting new decodable, curriculum-aligned packs from Booksource. Each pack includes sturdy plastic bins, labeled plastic bags, and books clearly marked with lesson information—all organized in a ready-to-use lesson sequence, right out of the box. Packs ship directly from our Booksource facility and are not eligible for customization.
These expertly curated titles from a variety of publishers were carefully aligned to the decodable curriculum program you already use: SIPPS, UFLI, or Wilson Fundations®.
*Booksource was acquired by Mackin in October 2024 allowing us to provide educators, like you, with expert support for your literacy needs by expanding your options and experience.
Booksource Bins
Labeled Zip Bags
Book Labels
Ready Out of the Box
Booksource’s custom-made SIPPS collections offer an effective and engaging solution for educators seeking books that support instruction across all SIPPS levels: Beginning, Extension (Review and Core), and Challenge. Designed for primary and elementary grades, as well as intervention, these collections give students ample opportunities to engage in letter-sound matching and practice phonics skills within connected texts, fostering mastery, automaticity, and fluency in reading.
Introducing Collections Aligned to the UFLI Scope & Sequence: Booksource’s custom-made solution for educators seeking effective and engaging decodable text supporting instruction of UFLI Foundations. Designed for primary grades and intervention, these collections provide ample opportunities for students to practice phonics skills in connected texts, promoting mastery, automaticity, and fluency in reading.
Booksource’s custom-made collections offer an effective solution for educators seeking engaging books that support instruction across Levels K, 1, 2, and 3 of Fundations®. Each collection features text sets of 2-4 books per week, providing a variety of formats, content, and genres, organized according to the Fundations® scope & sequence for each level. Designed for primary and elementary grades as well as intervention, these collections offer ample opportunities for students to engage with the alphabet, letter-sound matching, decodable text, story-based text, and informational text, reinforcing phonics skills to promote mastery, automaticity, and fluency in reading. This is an independent product and is not affiliated with, nor has it been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Wilson Language Training Corporation. Fundations® is a registered trademark of the Wilson Language Training Corporation.
Whether you need a vast collection to provide a comprehensive decodable program, or you’re looking to supplement your current decodable curriculum or collection, Mackin can help.
Contact our classroom experts or fill out a custom list request.
When you need a robust collection with research-backed scope & sequence alignment, along with teacher manuals to support instruction.
When you need great titles to support your decodable curriculum.
classroomservices@mackin.com | 800.245.9540
Each language has a different set of rules and ways to learn the basic sound-symbol correspondences within that language. You cannot apply the same rules to different languages. The resources on this page feature English decodables only. Reach out to our team of Classroom experts for help with finding English Learner resources.
Many of the publishers featured here offer decodables that are also engaging for older readers, beyond grade 2. Shop specifically for those texts here – we recommend sorting by “Series Title” for your review, or referencing our Decodable Publisher Guide linked above.
