Finding the right phonics program for your early or struggling readers can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. With so many options available (and with students’ needs varying widely), teachers often struggle to find a curriculum that is both effective and engaging for young readers. That’s why we asked Hilary Statum, a Tennessee teacher with over 18 years of pre-K through 5th grade classroom experience, literacy consultant, and reading interventionist, to try the Decoder Kids Phonics Program with her 1st and 2nd graders. Here’s her Teacher Picks review and why she was so impressed with how this curriculum helped her students gain confidence and make real progress in their reading.
What grade levels and subject areas do you think the Decoder Kids Phonics kits are best suited for?
I would begin using these toward the end of pre-K for advanced students. It is perfect for K-2 as well as struggling readers in 3rd grade.
Do Decoder Kids Phonics kits align with any specific standards or curriculum guidelines that you know of?
Yes. The nonfiction texts integrate various science and social studies standards. These books cover so many things, but I would point to 1st grade Common Core standards.
How did you use the Decoder Kids Phonics kit with your students?
I can honestly say that I found these books and the lesson plans incredibly easy to implement. I love the spiral-bound lesson plans and how there are enough books for me to use these with small groups. I was able to assess students to determine weaknesses or strengths and easily differentiate the lessons. For example, some students were reading the first text while others already started with the fifth book.
How did your students respond to the lessons?
My students loved the colorful illustrations and real photographs. They also really enjoyed each having their own book to hold. I’m often having to print off lists of words or sentences to practice, so the books were extra exciting for them to hold!
How easy was it to use and implement in your classroom?
Incredibly easy. I love the pacing of the lesson plans, how low prep it is while still being explicit and systematic. I think teachers will love being able to flip to the needed lesson plan, grab the set of books that go with them, and quickly review phonemic-awareness skills before beginning.
What were your two favorite features in the Decoder Kids Phonics kits for grades K-2?
The 80% decodability rate is great. Teachers are actively looking for decodable texts of high interest for students. These are engaging and appropriate.
I also really loved the green box on the lesson plans with tips for English language learners. These little bits of advice are so thoughtful and valuable!
What makes the Decoder Kids Phonics kits stand out compared to other phonics or literacy programs you’ve used?
The kits are aligned to the Science of Reading, and that is something teachers are really looking for. Besides that, the lesson plans make it easy to implement and the pacing is perfect. I was just reading research about how your lesson should begin with a quick skills review. All of the Decoder Kids Phonics lesson plans have that. Another thing is the connection between phonemic awareness and phonics, which is included in every lesson. The kits include comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, and even tips for multilingual learners.
How do you plan to use Decoder Kids Phonics kits again in the future?
I am actually planning to use this with older students who need to revisit skills. I will also use it when I meet with small groups and even with my Parent English Class. They will love having a specific skill to review and books to read!
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about your experience?
I don’t always love the material I receive for review, and I strive to be very honest about that. This kit absolutely blew me away! It will be so helpful with a variety of grade levels and backgrounds and help me when planning lessons for so many different skills.
Explore Decoder Kids Phonics Kits
Watch Hilary’s video review:
Teacher Picks is a sponsored program available from We Are Teachers. All opinions shared in the review are honest and based on the teacher’s direct experience. To learn more about our guidelines and review process, click here.
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