Decodable Texts with Practice Exercises for Learners with Decoding Difficulties in English

Abstract

Introduction

The study endeavored to prepare decodable texts with practice exercises to help learners familiarize themselves with decoding English words by providing engaging activities for individual use or small group tasks.

Methods

Using the decoding assessment tool, 30 grade-2 pupils were assessed in their decoding difficulties. The result revealed the least mastered decoding skills which have served as the lesson focus of the decodable texts with practice exercises. The decodable texts with practice exercises are anchored on the principles of Connectionist, Analogy models, picture-word associations and decodable text.

Results

In content validation, the rated layout and principles criteria got a perfect score, verbally described as Excellent and interpreted as no revision needed; although the criterion on language got the lowest score, it was still described as Excellent and therefore not needing revision. Pilot testing among 10 grade 2 pupils as target users showed that they liked the decodable texts because of the shortness of connected sentences, picture-word association, and illustration, engaging play-based activities, and clarity of directions.

Discussions

For future research, it is recommended to determine the effectiveness of said materials on the decoding skills of learners.