Four Ways Students Can Practice Their Decoding Skills
Decodable texts versus leveled texts has become such a controversial topic. However, decodable texts are so important when you are teaching students phonics skills and want them to practice reading the words in context. Giving students opportunities to practice the words in a decodable text will help them practice the phonics skill in context and become more fluent with that particular skill. If you are only using leveled readers, students do not get that explicit practice. I wanted to share four ways to incorporate decodable texts into your classroom.
- Decodable Books and Passages: Give students practice each day reading a decodable book or passage with the phonics skill that was taught. I like using passages that students can highlight the words with the phonics pattern being studied. It is beneficial for students to read the passage multiple times to build fluency with reading the decodable pattern.
- Poetry: Poetry can be great for students to practice decoding words in a fun way. Students can practice reading poems and perform them for their families or other classes. I always like to use poetry for shared reading opportunities and as a way to practice fluency. If students keep their poems in a poetry binder they can go back and practice previous poems throughout the year. This allows students to continue to review previous phonics skills.
- Sentence Practice: Have students read decodable sentences that are not part of a story can be an effective way for students to practice decoding words. Sometimes a book or reading passage can be overwhelming for students. Especially if the phonics skill is new or they are struggling to learn the skill. Isolated sentence practice allows for students to focus on less text at one time. Reading 5-10 sentences allows students to focus on decoding the phonics pattern in context while not being overwhelmed by the structure of a story or a whole book. They can focus on one sentence at a time.
- Word Lists: Have students practice reading word lists with the phonics skill being taught. This allows them to focus on one word at a time. Students can read the word list multiple times and try to increase their fluency each time. This can not only allow students to practice the phonics skill but it builds confidence.
How you choose to implement the ideas above are based on how much experience your students have with the phonics skill being taught. It can also be based on if the student struggles with the skill. I have created decodable activities that focus on first grade phonics skills. There are word lists, sentence practice, and decodable passages. I also included decodable word lists that can be used to assess if students can read words with that phonics skill.