Decodable text: A review of what we know

This article reviews the literature on decodable text, instructional materi al containing words with phonically regular relationships that the reader h as been taught. In doing so the work establishes a definition for decodabil ity by consolidating previous quantitative and qualitative analyses of word s in text and by examining other word features. In addition, the theoretica l purposes of decodable text are inspected as are the very few studies that specifically examine the effects of text decodability on readers. The find ings of this review are synthesized into a theoretical model that suggests a specific developmental juncture in which decodable text may be useful. In suggesting future research the work concludes that additional analyses of words in text are nor necessary. Instead research should focus on the follo wing: 1) experimental examinations of readers' interactions with decodable text 2) inspection of readers' behavior as they read text with varying degr ees of decodability; and 3) operation of text decodability with readers of varying abilities.