Decodable Books

Moderation state
funded
Grant Applicant
Justine Minczeski
School Site
Sierra Expeditionary Learning School
Grant Category
Literacy
Grant Date
2025-03-31T12:00:00
Description

This request is for funding to purchase new decodable book sets for small-group reading instruction at Sierra Expeditionary Learning School (SELS). Recent research in early literacy has shown that a structured phonics approach, particularly focusing on decoding words, is the most effective method for teaching reading. In response to this, SELS has adopted the Fundations program for Kindergarten and First Grade, and emphasizing the use of decodable texts will support these young readers further. While the school has a strong collection of leveled books, its supply of decodable texts is limited. This funding will help expand the library of decodable books to better support students as they develop their phonics skills.

Benefits of Program

The purchase of Fundations decodable texts will benefit all students in grades K-1, as well as students in reading intervention through Special Education and Response to Intervention (RTI) programs. The goal is to enhance the reading skills of all students. Using decodable texts alongside the structured phonics curriculum is backed by scientific research as the most effective way to teach reading. These texts will be used in small-group instruction and to offer additional reading practice. The decodable texts will:

  • Provide a systematic progression of phonics skills
  • Allow students to practice specific phonetic skills
  • Build confidence by reinforcing skills that have been explicitly taught
  • Strengthen neural pathways through repeated exposure to phonics skills
  • Enhance orthographic memory

This approach aligns with the latest research in the science of reading.

Success of Program

If all emerging readers at SELS had access to a wider variety of decodable readers, they would be able to better practice and apply the phonics skills they are learning. Currently, with a limited supply of decodable texts, these students have only a small number of books to read and decode independently. Expanding the collection of decodable texts is essential for allowing students to apply their knowledge of sounds and letter patterns, which is a key step toward reading connected text. Funding this grant would provide students with more books to enhance their reading fluency, comprehension, and overall confidence.

Implementation

Our system for phonics instruction is already up and running. If we receive this grant, we are prepared to put the additional books to use immediately with reading groups-- ranging from K-1 students in the classroom to students receiving reading intervention through the RTI or SPED programs. This influx of decodables would also allow students to have more access to books that are good-fit and give them more opportunities to practice their reading skills (decoding, fluency, and comprehension) during independent work times.

Can you share this grant with your grade level or subject team?

The plan is to purchase Fundations decodable Readers Level K and 1 for in-class use and to share with the SPED and RTI teams. Many students would receive instruction with these decodable texts.

Sustainability
The decodable books are sustainable items that will be reused across reading groups and over multiple years. Students are trained to handle the books with care, and the books are transported between school and home in Excellence in Education book bags, which help protect them from damage. This ensures that the books will remain in good condition for long-term use.
Amount Funded
$3485.00
Individual Budget Items(s)
$1495 - Fundations Readers Level K
$1495 - Fundations Readers Level 1
Shipping
$240.00
Taxes
$255.00
Other funding sources

Other funding sources have not been pursued at this time. As the district provides Fundations resources to local elementary schools using this program, it would be very helpful to receive funding support for our school. 

File Uploads
Fundations.pdf (297.73 KB)
Notes

Thank you for considering funding these materials. We have already seen significant progress through the use of the Fundations program and the small selection of decodable texts we currently have, and we are eager to build upon these gains with the addition of more decodable books.