Charge into Reading Decodable Reading System

Grounded in the Science of Reading and designed in consultation with Orton-Gillingham trained literacy specialist Marisa Ware, the Charge into Reading Decodable Readers take the guesswork out of learning to read!

Unlike other decodable books, which group new sounds together, each book in the Charge into Reading Decodable Reader series introduces one sound or spelling pattern at a time, building reading confidence.

Compelling storylines paired with a strict scope and sequence make for a series that children won't just be ABLE to read, but that they will actually WANT to read.

The Charge into Reading Decodable Reader line contains 9 stages of cumulative books, beginning with the most basic—the Short Vowel Beginning Reader Set—and working up to advanced spelling patterns. Each set builds on the next, introducing a new series of sounds or spelling patterns in addition to those previously taught.

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What Is Decoding?

For some parents, the idea of decoding may seem confusing or overwhelming. But it doesn’t need to be. Decoding is simply the ability to break a word down into the sounds made by each letter (or group of letters) in the word, and then string those sounds together to form a full word.

 A child who is decoding the word bed, for example, would break the word into its three sounds (also known as phonemes): /b/ /ĕ/ /d/. Once they have identified all three sounds, they would then string them together to say the word bed.

What Is a Scope and Sequence?

In order to decode well, a reader must know the sounds made by all of the letters and combinations of letters. But this isn’t something taught all at once. Rather, children learn one sound at a time, with each new skill building on the ones that were taught before. The order in which these sounds is taught is called a scope and sequence.

A scope and sequence is an organized list of the concepts to be taught (the scope) and the order in which they are organized (the sequence). A proper scope and sequence moves from simple concepts all the way up to advanced skills.

What Are Decodable Readers?

A decodable reader is a book that contains only the sounds and spelling patterns a child has already learned. When talking about decodable readers, it is important to remember that what is decodable to one child may not be decodable to another child. That is to say, not all children have mastered the same skills. This is what makes a scope and sequence so important. Decodable readers should follow a clear scope and sequence, with each book building on the last, just as the scope and sequence does.

 

Explore the Charge into Reading Decodable Readers

Charge into Reading Scope and Sequence

At its core, both the Charge into Reading Decodable Readers and the Charge into Reading scope and sequence are designed to support the curriculum being taught in schools and at home. The scope and sequence is most closely aligned with the 95 Phonics program and the UFLI Foundations scope and sequence.

 

Breaking news: As of January 2024, the Charge into Reading books are officially UFLI aligned and listed on the UFLI Foundations decodable text guide!

The Charge into Reading scope and sequence begins with one basic assumption: that children have already learned individual letter sounds and are ready to begin blending words together.  

The full scope and sequence is available for download and lists not only every book in the Charge into Reading collection but the graphemes and phonemes introduced in each book, as well as every word in every book.

Download Scope and Sequence

How Do I Write a Decodable Reader

Each book in the Charge into Reading Decodable Reading System begins by finding acceptable words within the book's spelling pattern. Here is an example of the acceptable words within the Long O VCE spelling pattern.

Working with this word list, I strive to create a compelling story using only these words and those children have learned in previous stages of the decodable reading system. Any high-frequency words are called out before the story to prepare parents and teachers for guided reading.

The only exception to our strict adherence to the cumulative nature of these books is our Stage 1 Short
Vowel Decodable Reader Set. Because it is impossible to tell a quality story utilizing only CVC words that feature a single vowel sound, minimal consonant blends and digraphs are included where they fit the specific short vowel sound. These are noted in a word list at the beginning of each book for guided
reading.

See the final book

Skill repetition

When learning a new skill, I know how important repetition is. But not repetition of the same word over and over again. Repetition of the skill being focused on, with enough variety to make a new reader think about what they're reading. That’s why I make a point of including as many unique words that fit the skill being taught as possible!

Real Stories

It has been my experience that many books that strive to teach reading lack consistent and enjoyable plots. As an author of hundreds of published children's books and an editor to thousands, I understand how to prioritize story while following the strict rules required by a decodable reading system. The words that appear in each of our decodable readers adhere to the goals of that stage of books without sacrificing plot, grammar, or early sentence structure. Part of learning to read is comprehension and being able to retell the story. Every story I write contains a clear beginning, middle, and end—a problem and a solution. A setting and a main character. All of this is designed to make every child who reads our books not just better at decoding words, but better at reading stories fluently and comprehending what they’ve read.

See the full story

Using Humor to Engage Readers

Children want to laugh. It’s that simple. For too long, decodable text has been deemed “boring.” Not anymore! If a story doesn't make sense, or doesn't make my own kids laugh, I scrap it and start again. And here’s the proof: feedback from real parents and teachers about how their children are enjoying the Charge into Reading books.

Let our customers speak for us

from 363 reviews
IEP

My granddaughter has recently been diagnosed with a learning disability. I purchased the 1st series and because she absolutely loved the books, as did I, we purchased the entire set! I know this will help her tremendously with learning to read. They are also very durable which makes them great for backpacks when she travels in between homes! I've shared these with her Special Education Teacher and she also loved them and said she is going to look into purchasing them as part if her curriculum!

Tina Ciccone
Stage 5: Word-Ending Spelling Patterns Decodable Reader Set
Stage 5: Word-Ending Spelling Patterns Decodable Reader Set
Great books

These books are very helpful for beginning readers to feel more confident in their skills. The pictures are cute and engaging as well. The activities are helpful in solidifying reading skills and we look forward to completing them at the end of the story. I'm really glad I purchased these.

Stacy
Stage 2: Consonant Blends Decodable Reader Set
Stage 2: Consonant Blends Decodable Reader Set
Great readers

These books are very helpful for beginning readers to feel more confident in their skills. The pictures are cute, too. The activities are helpful in solidifying reading skills and we look forward to completing them at the end of the story. The digital download of the activities is very helpful.

Stacy
Stage 1: Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
Stage 1: Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
My kids love them!!

My students are obsessed and so excited to have other books that they can read!

Katie Rys
Stage 5: Word-Ending Spelling Patterns Decodable Reader Set
Stage 5: Word-Ending Spelling Patterns Decodable Reader Set
Amazing!!!

I think these are some of the best decodables! My favorite part are the extra pages in the back with mini lessons for kids. 100% love these books!

Katie Rys
Stage 3: Digraph Decodable Reader Set
Stage 3: Digraph Decodable Reader Set
Just what our school needed

This books are exactly what we needed at our school. We didn't have any decodable that were UFLI aligned. These books make it so much easier to know which books my students need to be reading. And the best part the kids love them. When I was unpacking them they were so excited they wanted to start reading them right away. And once they were done one story they wanted the next one! Thank you for creating books that work on each skill and have a great story.

Kathleen Hawley
Stage 3: Digraph Decodable Reader Set
Stage 3: Digraph Decodable Reader Set
I like the tests at the back of the book

I like it very much, especially the little test at the end.

Biao Wu
Stage 5: Word-Ending Spelling Patterns Decodable Reader Set
Stage 5: Word-Ending Spelling Patterns Decodable Reader Set
Great interactive books

Bought this set for my first grade class and the kids love them. Great progression of skills and engaging stories and pictures for the kids. LOVE that each story has a variety of exercises to help activate learning and check comprehension. Worth every penny!

Lucy Eccles
Stage 3: Digraph Decodable Reader Set
Stage 3: Digraph Decodable Reader Set
Amazing resource!

I love that I can give my students an authentic, decodable text and not spend hours printing, folding and stapling paper books! These are targeted for the short vowels and I fully intend on expanding my collection as we move into long vowels and digraphs! Thank you for an amazing resource!

Christina Borger
Stage 1: Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
Stage 1: Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
Excellent decodable books

These decodable books are the best out there. I have taught kids how to read for years. I have my PhD in literacy. I have tried all the books around and I have liked these the best by far! They are engaging, interesting, and easy-to-use for parents and educators. More kids need to have access to these great books! HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Becca Thiermann
Stage 1: Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
Stage 1: Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
Love these decodables!!!

These decodables are truly amazing! I was actually fortunate enough to win a pack for Wishlist Wednesday. I definitely plan on purchasing! They are beautiful and the stories are great! My kids have really enjoyed them!

Brittney Sims
Stage 3: Digraph Decodable Reader Set
Stage 3: Digraph Decodable Reader Set
Great beginning of the year practice!

My first graders loved using these to practice blends at the beginning of the year. I could see end of year Kinder using them as well. I also use them in my intervention groups to provide additional practice. They go perfectly with our UFLI scope and sequence. The kids love them!

Kristen W.
Stage 2: Consonant Blends Decodable Reader Set
Stage 2: Consonant Blends Decodable Reader Set
Perfect for my Firsties!

My first graders love these books. We use them as extra practice right along side our learning through UFLI. They are perfectly aligned and offer great opportunities to build some vocabulary knowledge too. Thank you for writing these!

Kristen W.
Stage 5: Word-Ending Spelling Patterns Decodable Reader Set
Stage 5: Word-Ending Spelling Patterns Decodable Reader Set
LOVE THESE!

My son learned to read with this set!! He has felt so confident reading this particular set of decodables and he likes the story line & pictures more than previous decodables I have had for him. Thank you so much, Brooke, for also including personalized handwritten notes to my son on the title page! How special!! Thanks for going above and beyond. We will absolutely be purchasing the rest!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Kelly
Stage 1: Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
Stage 1: Short Vowel Decodable Reader Set
My favorite stage

These books are relatable for students and use HFW! It was easy for my students to pick up these books and WANT to read them. Interesting and accessible for multiple ages.

Brooke Kurt
Stage 7: Vowel Teams Decodable Reader Set
Stage 7: Vowel Teams Decodable Reader Set

Charge into Reading Decodable Readers

Ready to start your own child’s reading journey? Visit our individual product pages or our full decodable books page below.

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