Decodable Student Books

Friends on the Block decodable books were developed by experts to support all students, including those with disabilities.

Features include:

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    Carefully sequenced decodable text

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    Immediate application of newly taught skills in connected text

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    Repetition and cumulative practice of high-frequency words, both irregular and decodable words, to build automaticity and fluency

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    Supports for language and listening comprehension, which decrease across levels as student skills increase

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    Fiction, nonfiction, and social stories

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    Familiar characters in relatable, engaging stories

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    Natural, meaningful sentences and plot sequences

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    Full-color illustrations and photos on large (8.5x11) pages

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    Durable construction

The books are the heart of the curriculum.

1. A friend (teacher, tutor, family member, peer) reads Helper Text in gray boxes. Helper Text improves the story and supports comprehension and vocabulary.

2. The student reads Student Text in white.

3. Sound It Out Target Words are decodable words that are also high-frequency words.

4. Read It Target Words are irregular or temporarily irregular high-frequency words.

5. A few Picture Words improve the story and support meaning, as well as basic vocabulary.

Cartoon of a boy and a girl playing with a dog in a park
Friends on the Block books incorporate scaffolds that allow struggling learners to read stories and informational texts about familiar topics, situations, and characters in language that sounds natural and is highly engaging.

Friends on the Block readers are unique because they include “Helper Text” that provides context for the student text. Text intended for student reading is comprised primarily of decodable words and irregular sight words that have been explicitly taught during the current or previous lessons. Picture Words (words with images) are included sparingly to enhance the story and comprehension. These scaffolds decrease as student skills increase.

In later levels as students become more independent, Friends on the Block books have more Student Text, less Helper Text, and very few, if any, Picture Words.

Cartoon of a girl in a wheelchair and a boy in a shirt sitting on the grass

Student Books by Level

Children's early reader books spread out

Purchase specific levels of student books for focused instruction or intervention or to provide access to more students.

Purchase Student Books by Level

Individual Student Books

Cartoon picture of a baby sister getting a baby in a crib, surrounded by a few other cartoon images

Purchase individual student books to provide access to more students, replace lost texts, or supplement eMemberships.

Purchase Individual Student Books

All 60 Decodable Readers

Complete Set

Set of six cards with illustrations of people in different situations, set against a blue and white background

Complete Set of 60 Decodable Readers

$450

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