Stairway Decodables: Phonics Resources for Early Learning Success
Although non-copiable students are an important part of the K-2 Reading Science classroom, many teachers say that such books are often too short or lack the appeal to engage early learners. To help schools provide teachers with additional resources to support students at school and at home, Capstone launched Stairway Decodables.
Stairway Decodables is an additional phonics resource for small group teaching, independent study, and at home. The series is organized into six steps. Each step has books that give students practice in classifying words with specific phonemes. Each book is clearly written to help teachers and caregivers easily identify the right resource for their student.
- Step 1 books focus on short vowels.
- Step 2 of the textbooks teach combining initial and final consonants.
- Step 3 books focus on consonant digraphs.
- Step 4 books include concepts including “e,” soft “c” and “g,” and trigraphs.
- Step 5 books focus on vowel groups.
- Step 6 of the book provides practice with r-vowel combinations, diphthongs, and long vowels.
With 60 engaging, authentic texts, Stairway Decodables helps teachers support students at every step of their learning journey. Each book is at least 80% divisible to systematically build students’ skills and confidence. The books, which range from 24 to 32 pages, are longer than standard decodables to help build resilience and student engagement.
Stairway Decodables are more than just sounds. They cover many areas of Learning Science, including comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, and phonological awareness. Each fictional book helps young readers build basic reading and writing skills while analyzing common words phonetically.
“Stairway Decodables make it easy for teachers to access resources tailored to each student’s needs while giving kids a fun choice for independent learning,” said Beth Brezenoff, Capstone Executive VP and General Manager, Content. “Because the decodables have a long page count and we were intentional about the look and feel, they feel like ‘real books’ to first readers. Also, with attractive lines and illustrations, and different, complementary characters, students can’t wait to dig into the stories and have a successful reading experience.”
For teachers, each Stairway Decodables book begins with a key features page that includes word counts, focused phonics skills, and challenging words for students. Each book provides ideas for before, during, and after reading, as well as extended reading activities to support phonics awareness, writing, and critical thinking.
Stairway Decodables are available in hardcover, paperback, or eBook format. Classroom sets include all 60 Stairway Decodables paperbacks and a skills matrix and display box. For information, visit the website.
Looking ahead to 2025, Capstone will release 10 more Step 1 books on January 1. In the fall, Capstone will expand its recordable offering with 36 translated books.
About the Capstone
Capstone is a leading educational publisher of K-5 digital solutions, children’s books, and literacy programs for school libraries, classrooms, and home learning. Through print books, interactive eBooks, or the PebbleGo™ curriculum-connected learning tool, Capstone is passionate about inspiring students to learn and their communities to thrive. As a publisher of children’s content, Capstone embraces a responsibility to celebrate and share the diverse voices and perspectives of our readers and communities. Capstone supports great teaching and learning with engaging content that informs the work teachers do every day—helping students succeed. Visit CapstonePub.com for more information. #LearningForAll