How to use decodable texts slide outlines
1. How to use decodable texts
2. Decodable text
Whole grade
[Image: Cover of decodable text, Sant the ant (courtesy of SPELD SA, 2021), and graphic showing figures of a classroom of students.]
3. Sant the ant
[Image: cover of decodable text, Sant the ant, courtesy of SPELD SA Phonics Book Series.]
4. Sant the ant practice page
[Image: Practice page of Sant the ant. Practise the sounds: /s/, /a/, /t/, /i/, /p/, /n/. Practise blending sounds: in, at, ant, tin, tap, pin, sat, sit. Practise high-frequency words: the, on, a.]
5. Sant the ant vocabulary page
[Image: Vocabulary page of Sant the ant, with a short introductory explanation and then a list of words and definitions. Content reads: Vocabulary: The words on this page can be used to help the student’s comprehension before, during or after reading the book. Link the meanings of words with what the student already knows, show examples, or have students act out the words. Ant: a crawling insect with six legs. Sat: rested on your bottom with your back straight. Tin: a metal can. Tap: water can come out of a tap. Pin: small, metal tool with a sharp point to join things together.]
6. Sant the ant cover page
[Image: Cartoon illustration of Sant the ant, with background photo of red bushy desert-like landscape.]
7. Sant the ant page one
[Image: Cartoon illustration of Sant the ant in a tin can, with background photo of red bushy desert-like landscape. Text reads: Sant sat in a tin.]
8. Sant the ant page two
[Image: Cartoon illustration of Sant the ant next to a running water tap, with background photo of red bushy desert-like landscape. Text reads: Sant sat at the tap.]
9. Sant the ant page three
[Image: Cartoon illustration of Sant the ant sitting on a safety pin, with background photo of red bushy desert-like landscape. A speech bubble coming from Sant’s mouth says: a-a-a! Text reads: Sant sat on a pin.]
10. Sant the ant fluency chart
[Image: Fluency chart page of Sant the ant, listing words from the decodable text. Words listed: at, an, it, in, tin, sat, pin, ant, tap, sit, nap, Sant.]
11. Sant the ant decodable text teacher notes and discussion questions
[Image: Page from Sant the ant detailing teacher notes and discussion questions. Text says: From blending to fluency. To develop fluency, the student needs to re-read the same book multiple times. Students might initially sound out every word and re-read every sentence but, with practice, blending will become more automatic. The fluency chart can be used to develop automaticity of blending by providing single word blending practice. While reading the book, the student:
- blends the sounds of each unknown word in the sentence
- identifies and reads high-frequency words
- re-reads the sentence from the beginning
- discusses the meaning of the sentence.
When finished, the student needs to re-read the whole book and practise reading the same book until they can read at a steady pace with minimal sounding out.
Making connections – questions and discussion
After the student has read the book, or the relevant page, ask them one or more of the following questions, and discuss:
- Who is Sant? What did Sant do in the story?
- Tell me where you have seen ants.
- Why do you think Sant sat at the tap?
- How would you feel if you sat on a pin?]
12. Decodable text: teacher focus group
[Image: To the left are icons of four students each with a copy of the Sant the ant text in front of them, and to the right is a screenshot showing the 6 steps in the Literacy Hub’s instructional model for teacher-led review. Step 1: Review letter–sound correspondences. Step 2: Practise word-level reading (including irregular words). Step 3: Read the title and make a brief prediction. Step 4: Listen to each student read individually, while other students read aloud to themselves. Step 5: Discuss the text with students. Step 6: Allow students to keep their copy for independent practice if they are ready.]
13. Decodable text: independent practice
[Image: icon of individual student with a copy of Sant the ant in front of them.]