Reading Support for Cascade Elementary

- by Emily Nguyen, Renton Schools Foundation Student Intern

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Through a teacher grant fulfilled by Renton Schools Foundation, Cascade Elementary School has received new decodable readers for their 2nd grade students. By using decodable readers, educators aim to support students in developing their readings skills, specifically students that are multi-lingual or may be reading below grade-level.

What are decodable readers?

Decodable readers are short books designed to emphasize phonics, which is an essential component of learning to read. These texts help students develop decoding skills by encouraging them to sound out unfamiliar words. They also support the use of context for reading comprehension, helping students become more confident and independent readers.

Literacy coach, Janet Regge shares that the most notable difference she has observed after using these decodable readers is that students have become more engaged in reading as due to the storyline, characters, and illustrations that these books offer.