Decodable Books Digraphs Decode and Draw Series | Printable Classroom Resource | Miss DeCarbo
This is a set of TEN decodable books that focus on one-syllable, short vowel words with digraphs: sh, ch, th, wh, and ck. Your students will love being the readers AND the illustrators of these adorable decodables! The format of these books require students to focus on what we want them to focus on- the graphemes on the page- not the pictures, as they decode text.
Click here to check out the preview file.
Teachers who have embarked on a journey into the science of reading are making exciting, positive changes within their classrooms! As a fellow lifelong learner, I applaud your bravery and courage to continue to seek out resources and instructional strategies that will best meet the needs of the readers within your classroom.
Moving away from instructional strategies and materials that utilize the three-cueing systems is a vital step teachers need to take in order to put the science of reading research into practice.
As a literacy coach and reading teacher, I have a great deal of students who come to me with a habit of relying heavily on pictures to decode unknown words. While pictures are certainly important in books, I found myself covering them up so that students would stop guessing unknown words! When it comes to learning how to read, we want students to focus on connecting their understanding of sounds to the written letters on the page in order to decipher unknown words.
With this need in mind, the decode and draw series was born! These simple, short printable books help students concentrate on the words first. After they practice reading the text, they can illustrate each page within the book. The final page of each book contains word work practice. The result is an interactive decodable book that boosts word recognition, comprehension, fluency, and word mapping skills. I hope you and your students enjoy these books just as much as mine have!
"Tell me more about these decodable books. What makes them different than typical decodable books?"
Each of the ten decodable books contains five pages of controlled text. One book for each of the following digraphs has been written: wh, ch, sh, th, and ck. You will also find five books that focus on MIXED DIGRAPHS. These five books are great to use after you have introduced each of the five digraphs in this set. A complete list of the titles, phonics focus, and the high-frequency words that are found within each book are also included in the preview file and in the overview file of the purchased download.
The final page (which is on the back of each book) contains a word work component. Students will say each picture and touch the sound boxes to tap out the sounds in the words. Students will then spell and write the words on the lines.
The word mapping page follows the targeted phonics skill that the book featured. The word work page helps students make the connection between reading the words and writing the words with the targeted phonics skill.
Who are these books for?
Use these decodables with any student who is ready to begin blending and reading one syllable, short vowel words with digraphs sh, ch, th, wh, and ck. These books are perfect for the second half of kindergarten, first graders who are reading digraphs, and any student who is still working on automaticity and accuracy of digraphs within the classroom or home setting.
"When and how can I best use these decodable books in my classroom?"
These books can be used at the small group table, as a whole-group phonics activity while reading each page together, or as independent work. Personally, it is the independent practice that I struggle with this year in my classroom. Finding independent work that is meaningful can be challenging. These books are PERFECT for this! After your students have started practicing digraphs with you explicitly, they can apply their reading skills by reading and illustrating one page at a time. Being able to check their picture on each page provides you with comprehension accountability and the perfect way to jump into a discussion with students.
"Are the books difficult to assemble?"
(Raises hand) Fellow reading teacher, here! I get it. One of the reasons I don't use the printable decodable books on some other commercial websites is because I cannot figure them out ha! I've made these books super simple to put together, and they are all printer-friendly. They don't even use a lot of ink because your students are the ones who will become the illustrators of these books! Talk about ownership and meaningful reading!
