{"id":6950,"date":"2026-09-21T17:37:38","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T17:37:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.getepic.com\/learn\/?p=6950"},"modified":"2026-09-21T19:40:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T19:40:41","slug":"decodable-books-reading-inspires-podcast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.getepic.com\/learn\/decodable-books-reading-inspires-podcast\/","title":{"rendered":"Building Confident Readers: Epic Joins Reading Is Fundamental\u2019s Reading Inspires Podcast"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

What helps a new reader go from sounding out words to thinking, \u201cHey, I can do this\u201d?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice, the right books and plenty of opportunities to experience reading success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s at the heart of a recent episode of Reading Is Fundamental\u2019s (RIF) Reading Inspires<\/em> podcast, where Epic\u2019s Cherish Mims, Manager of Educator Relations, and Letitia Truslow, who leads Epic School Plus and Customer Experience, joined host Dr. Erin Bailey and Christine Hjorth, author of ALIGNED Decodables and CEO of Aligned Educational Resources, for a conversation about building confident readers through high-quality decodable books.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group talked about Epic\u2019s growing collection of 250+ decodable books, what makes decodables useful and engaging and how educators and families can use them to support developing readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, What Makes a Great Decodable?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Decodable books<\/a> are designed to give kids opportunities to practice the phonics skills they\u2019re learning in real reading experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christine explains during the conversation that a good decodable isn\u2019t simply a string of easy-to-sound-out words. The books can still surprise kids, introduce new vocabulary and cover interesting fiction and nonfiction topics, all while giving readers practice with specific phonics patterns.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That balance matters. Because learning to read takes work, but the books kids practice with should still give them a reason to turn the page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Epic\u2019s collection of ALIGNED Decodables is organized to align with the scope and sequence of 23 curricula, helping educators find books that complement the skills students are already learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From Phonics Practice to Reading Confidence<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the big themes of the conversation was confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cherish described decodables as a bridge between direct phonics instruction and authentic reading experiences. After learning a particular skill, students can practice it independently, with a partner, in a small group or one-on-one with their teacher.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the experience doesn\u2019t have to stop once kids decode the words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Educators can ask students to retell the story, talk about their favorite part, visualize what\u2019s happening or explore how a character might be feeling. Those conversations help kids move beyond phonics practice to think about and engage with what they\u2019re reading. As Cherish explained, the ultimate goal isn\u2019t phonics itself. It\u2019s helping kids become independent learners, thinkers and readers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meeting Readers Where They Are<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any teacher who\u2019s worked with a classroom full of young readers knows they don\u2019t all arrive at the same place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One student may be practicing short vowels while another is ready for blends, vowel teams or more advanced word patterns. The podcast explores how a large digital decodable collection can give educators more options for meeting different reading needs within the same classroom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christine shared an example of having multiple books about the same topic written at different decoding levels. Students can practice with a text appropriate for them and still come back together to talk about the same subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opportunity is to meet students where they are now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing Reading Practice Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The conversation also explored something we care deeply about at Epic: strengthening the connection between school and home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Teachers can use Epic to assign decodable books or collections that correspond with the skills students are practicing. Families don\u2019t have to figure out which phonics pattern comes next or search for the right book., Teachers can help guide the experience by assigning books or collections that match what students are practicing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Letitia also shared feedback from educators about English language learners and, in some cases, parents using decodables while learning English alongside their children. It\u2019s a powerful reminder that giving families access to the right reading resources can create opportunities for learning together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep the Conversation Going<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s plenty more packed into the episode, from the unexpected story of how Epic connected with Christine and ALIGNED Decodables to ideas educators can use to make phonics practice more meaningful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of all, the conversation comes back to a simple idea: learning to read is hard work and successful reading experiences can help kids build the confidence to keep going.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Listen to \u201cBuilding Confident Readers Through High Quality Decodables\u201d<\/strong> on RIF\u2019s Reading Inspires<\/em> podcast to hear the full conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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LISTEN TO THE EPISODE<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Then explore the growing collection of decodable books on Epic and help your readers find just the right story for where they are in their reading journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find the decodable collection that matches your curriculum:<\/p>\n\n\n\n