Understanding different types of children’s books
Understanding Decodable Books
Understanding Scarborough’s Reading Rope
Reading is not just “sounding out words.”
Reading is your child’s brain doing multiple things at the same time—quickly, automatically, and often without them even realizing it.
This visual shows that reading is like a rope made of many strands. Each strand represents a skill your child must learn. Over time, those strands are woven together to create strong, skilled reading.
Why use Decodable Books
Tolman’s Hourglass Figure (modified)
The Simple View of Reading for Parents
Reading is a simple equation—but both sides matter.
Your child must be able to read the words and understand what they mean at the same time. If either side is weak, reading becomes difficult. When both are strong, your child can truly make meaning from text.