Stairway Decodables

60 engaging, authentic texts

80% decodability across all titles with word
counts and phonics skills that advance as
readers build stamina and confidence

Supplemental phonics resource that are
perfect for small group instruction
and independent reading practice

Before, During and After Reading Suggestions
to activate background knowledge

Recurring characters provide a high level of
decodability, activate background knowledge,
and provide support for caregivers reading a
home with their student

Stairway Decodables

Capstone introduces Stairway Decodables, a supplemental phonics resource to support Science of Reading instruction. Each book combines multiple components of the Science of Reading, including comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, and phonological and phonemic awareness, while featuring engaging plots, appealing visuals, and recurring characters who reflect students’ interests and communities. Take reading instruction one step at a time with Stairway Decodables.

Step 1 Sample

The Step 1 book, Tess Has Fun , focuses on short vowels with a specific focus on vowel teams, consonant digraphs, and short vowels.

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Step 2 Sample

The Step 2 title, I Can Do It , teaches consonant blends, specifically initial and final blends. Included is a list of tricky words and encourages comprehension skills through discussions and picture analysis.

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Step 3 Sample

The Step 3 book, Beth's Bath ,focuses on digraphs "sh" and "th".

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Step 4 Sample

The Step 4 book, Will's Bike, covers various phonics concepts, including vowel teams, consonant digraphs, initial and final blends, short vowels, silent 'e', soft 'c' and 'g', trigraphs, vowel-r combinations, diphthongs, and long vowels.

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Step 5 Sample

The Step 5 book, Cat Food Clues, focuses on vowel teams (ue, oo, oa, ow) and contains tricky words.

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Step 6 Sample

The Step 6 title, Points and Fouls, provide practice in decoding words with diphthongs.

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Front and Back Matter Instructional Support

Skill Matrix

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Parent Letter

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This is a delightful collection of relatable decodable text featuring a wide range of titles. The illustrations are colorful and captivating, while the content includes diverse characters engaging in activities that children can easily relate to, connecting with their own experiences. This level also ties in themes from previous levels, such as vehicles and animals, allowing readers to master new skills while reviewing and reinforcing what they’ve already learned. The front matter provides useful information for comprehension, vocabulary practice, and even a word count.

School Library Journal

Consistent, engaging illustrations conveying joy and wit complement the progression of the series...valuable for literacy instruction and reinforcement.

Booklist

My students are benefiting not only from the practice of phonics skills in these texts but also from the authentic and rich literature experiences they provide.

Hilary Baude

Groton Public Schools, CT

Added to The Reading League’s Decodable Text Resources list

I appreciate the simple layout of the "About This Book" as a quick reference for my planning and how it features potentially "tricky words."

Lewiston Public Schools, ME

Purchasing Options

Step 1

Short vowels

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Step 2

Initial and final blends

Consonant digraphs

Silent e, soft c and g, and trigraphs

Vowel teams

Vowel-r combinations, diphthongs, and long vowels

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Combines multiple components of the Science of Reading to help young readers build vocabulary knowledge, improve verbal reasoning and language structures while decoding phonetically regular words

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