In this outstanding follow-up to Phonics From A to Z, Wiley Blevins explains why quality decodable text is an essential early learning tool. A decodable text is a story or book that is controlled based on the phonics skills taught up to that point. Children can sound out the majority of the words in a decodable text using the sound-spelling relationships they have learned, giving them plenty of opportunities to apply those skills to real reading experiences. This must-have resource includes: a summary of various research that has been done about the impact of decodable texts on phonics learning, characteristics that distinguish strong from weak decodable texts, plus tips on what to do if you have weak or no decodable texts, suggestions on how to include decodable texts in your instruction if you use leveled books, easy before-, during-, and after-reading routines for using decodable texts to build phonics and fluency skills, ways to connect decodable texts to writing, strategies for using decodable texts to build comprehension and vocabulary skills, reproducible templates and activity pages, as well as decodable mini-books and sample lessons Book jacket.