Decoding Teaching Resources
Build students' decoding skills with reading activities, printable worksheets and more teacher resources, all created by teachers for classrooms like yours.
This comprehensive collection is filled with resources aligned with both the TEKS and Common Core English curriculums, and each resource has undergone the Teach Starter teacher team's thorough review process. Download resources you know you'll be able to add to your lesson plans immediately!
New to teaching students decoding strategies? Read on for a primer from our teacher team, including a look at how this skill plays into early literacy development and tips to help your students build their decoding savvy!
What Is Decoding in Reading?
It's something you likely know, but we like to start from the top, so let's dig into the meaning of decoding in a reading context. (Just want some ideas? Feel free to scroll down to our collection!)
Simply put, decoding is translating written words into spoken language.
Need a little more?
In early literacy education, decoding refers to the process of breaking words down into their individual sounds and then blending those sounds together to form recognizable words. As students build their skills, they are eventually able to decode — or read — increasingly more complicated written texts.
The process of encoding builds off of phonics instruction, understanding of sight words, pattern recognition and the use of context clues, helping students become fluent readers with strong comprehension skills.
Decoding vs. Encoding — What's the Difference?
When discussing decoding in early education, we typically talk about reading instruction. As noted above, we teach our students to decode — or translate — the written word into the spoken form.
Of course, we don't do this in isolation. Kids need to learn to encode too, and linking instruction of both has been shown to help students learn to be stronger readers and spellers.
So, what is encoding, and how does it differ from decoding?
In an educational context, encoding is the polar opposite, and we tend to use the term in regard to teaching kids to write. In its most basic forms, encoding involves learning to spell different words by representing the sounds with corresponding written letters.
In essence, instead of translating written words into speech, encoding means teaching our students to translate spoken words into written words.
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Long I Vowel Teams Interactive Activity
Practice identifying the different vowel teams that spell the long /i/ sound with this fun iceberg-themed interactive activity.
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Consonant Digraph CH Interactive Activity
Engage students in practicing their learning around the consonant digraph of ‘ch’ with this fun beach-themed interactive activity.
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Consonant Digraph SH Interactive Activity
Engage students in practicing their learning around the consonant digraph of ‘sh’ with this fun beach-themed interactive activity.
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Consonant Digraph WH Interactive Activity
Engage students in practicing their learning around the consonant digraph of ‘wh’ with this ocean-themed interactive activity.
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Diphthong Coloring Activity Worksheets
Practice finding different vowel team diphthongs with this set of fun color-by-code worksheets for your students.
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Sh Digraph Lesson Resource Pack
Introduce students to the sh digraph with this set of teaching slides and mini activity book.
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Diphthong Cut-and-Paste Worksheet
Help students practice their knowledge of different diphthongs with this set of cut-and-paste worksheets.
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My Diphthong Cheat Sheet
Help students learn all about diphthong vowel teams with this handy diphthong student reference sheet.
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Ch Digraph Words With Images
Learn words that contain the 'ch' digraph with these word and picture flashcards.
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'EE' Vowel Team Board Game
Decode words with the ee long vowel team in this word card board game.
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Vowel Team Dominoes - OA, OW, and OE
Decode words with oa, ow, and oe vowel team conventions for representing long vowel sounds using this set of 28 dominoes.
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R-Controlled Digraphs Worksheet Pack
Practice writing and enhancing knowledge of r-controlled digraphs with this worksheet pack.
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Wh Digraph Words With Images
Learn words that contain the 'wh' digraph with these word and picture flashcards.
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1st Grade Consonant Digraphs Worksheet Pack
Practice writing and enhancing knowledge of consonant digraphs with this worksheet pack.
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Vowel Teams Worksheet Pack
Practice writing and enhancing knowledge of vowel digraphs with this worksheet pack.
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Long I Words - Word Search
Explore words containing some of the most common “long i” spelling patterns with this set of differentiated word searches.
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OI and OY Words - Word Search
Explore words containing “oi” and “oy” with this set of differentiated word searches.
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My Magic E Story - Silent E Words Mini-Book
Practice reading and writing sentences with silent e words with this magic e-mini-book.
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Silent Letters Worksheets - Word and Picture Match Up
Explore one and two-syllable words with silent letters with this set of 7 skill-targeted worksheets.
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Silent Letter Flap Books
A great worksheet alternative to help your students identify silent letters in words.
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Words with Silent Letters - Worksheets
Identify silent letters in words with this set of six decoding worksheets.
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Silent Letters Worksheet Pack
Use these 5 ghost letter worksheets for practicing the use and identification of silent letters in words.
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Silent Letters Word Sort - Cut and Paste Worksheets
Identify silent letters in words with this set of four cut-and-paste worksheets.
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Word Study List - Consonant Digraphs
Cover consonant digraphs in the classroom with a printable list of digraph words.
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Word Study List - Silent Letters
Introduce and explore words containing silent letters with this extensive list of words.
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Word Study List - Ending Blends
Introduce and explore words containing ending blends with this extensive list of words.
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Word Study List - Long Vowels
Introduce and explore words containing graphemes that make long vowel sounds with this extensive list of words.
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Word Study List - Long I Words
Introduce and explore words containing spelling patterns that make the “long i” sound with this long I words list.
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Spelling Long A Words - SCOOT! Task Cards
Explore the different ways to spell the “long a” sound with a game of Scoot!
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Consonant Digraph Clip Cards
Explore consonant digraphs at the beginning and end of words with these hands-on clip cards.
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Magic E Wand and Word Cards
Create a crafty phonics activity to explore the power of the magic e in CVCe words.
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Short Vowel Worksheets (Middle Sounds Practice)
Identify medial or middle vowel sounds with this set of three worksheets.