Beyond Decodables are best for children working on applying phonics skills to decode words (K-2nd). Check the scope and sequence and the back page of each book to see if it is right for your students. Parents, you can use these books, too! Our Parent Guide is coming soon!

Beyond Decodables are meant for small group and independent reading. Remember, the goal is for children to actively decode the words in these books, so you need to give them the chance to individually encounter and decode each word. For children who may need more support, we recommend considering using a different text or echo reading. Check out our lesson templates to see how to teach using these texts.

There are a few ways your teaching might need to change to get the most out of these books. First, focus at least some small group reading lessons on applying phonics to read words in texts by following our templates and using Beyond Decodables. Second, change your prompting to focus on "Look at the word" and "Slide through each sound" instead of "Check the picture." Third, consider a new way of evaluating children's reading, like Drs. Nell K. Duke, Alessandra E. Ward, and Rachel Klingelhofer's Listening to Reading Protocol (available on Dr. Nell K. Duke's website). All of this and more in my new book, Reading Above the Fray. Find it everywhere books are sold.