What is a decodable passage?

A short piece of connected text that uses only the letter-sound patterns a reader has already been taught, plus a few high-frequency heart words. A child can sound out almost every word instead of guessing from pictures or context.

How do I use these passages?

Pick the passage whose pattern matches what you are teaching. Have the reader read it aloud, then read it again for smoothness. Point out the target pattern, and pre-teach the small set of heart words listed under each passage.

Are these passages really decodable?

Every content word is drawn from a stage-verified word list, and each passage is checked so it uses only the patterns taught by its stage. The few words that cannot be sounded out yet are labeled as heart words under each passage.

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Decodable passages by pattern.

A decodable passage is short connected text that uses only the letter-sound patterns a reader has already been taught, so a child can sound out almost every word instead of guessing. These free passages are grouped by pattern, from short vowels through vowel teams. Every content word is drawn from our stage-verified decodable word lists, and the few high-frequency words that cannot be sounded out yet are listed as heart words under each passage. Read one aloud, then read it again for smoothness. Print the page to use it on paper.

Short vowels (CVC)Stage: Consonants and short vowels

Pip and the Bug

Pip is a pup. Pip sat on a big log. A bug ran up the log. Pip did not nap. Pip ran to get the bug. The bug hid in a can. Pip got wet in the mud. Pip is a sad, wet pup!

Heart words in this passage (taught by sight): the, a, to, is. Every other word can be sounded out with the patterns taught by this stage.

Digraphs sh, ch, thStage: Closed syllables: digraphs

Chip and the Fish

Chip has a big dish. A fish sits in the dish. The fish is thin. It can dash to the top. 'Such a fish!' Chip said. Chip did wish to get that fish.

Heart words in this passage (taught by sight): the, a, to, is, has, said. Every other word can be sounded out with the patterns taught by this stage.

Silent-e (a_e, i_e, u_e)Stage: Silent-e (vowel-consonant-e)

Meg Made a Cake

Meg made a cake. The cake was cute. Meg gave a bite to Dave. Dave ate it up. 'I like this cake!' Dave said. Meg made five cakes.

Heart words in this passage (taught by sight): the, a, to, was, i, said. Every other word can be sounded out with the patterns taught by this stage.

R-controlled ar, orStage: R-controlled vowels

The Barn

Mark has a farm. A big barn is on the farm. In the barn, a pig ate corn. Mark got a cart and a fork. The corn was hard. Mark had fun on the farm.

Heart words in this passage (taught by sight): a, is, the, for, was, and. Every other word can be sounded out with the patterns taught by this stage.

Vowel teams ai, ee, oaStage: Long vowels and vowel teams

The Green Boat

We see a green boat. The boat can sail. A goat sits on the boat. It did rain on the goat. The goat is wet. We sail to the coast. The goat is safe.

Heart words in this passage (taught by sight): we, a, the, to, is. Every other word can be sounded out with the patterns taught by this stage.

Want the words behind these passages? See the free decodable word lists by pattern and the structured literacy scope and sequence. To teach the patterns themselves, start with the six syllable types.

See it in action. In the Lillory app, children read decodable words and sentences inside the games, matched to the stage they are on, so the practice stays sound-out-able the same way these passages are.

See how Lillory teaches