Why Re-Reading Decodable Books Builds Fluency (and Confidence!) in Young Readers

At Montessori Makers Learning, we believe in the power of intentional, developmentally aligned literacy practices. One simple but profoundly effective strategy? Re-reading decodable books. While it may feel repetitive to adults, re-reading is one of the most important tools we can give children as they build fluency, comprehension, and confidence in their early reading journey.

What Is Fluency—and Why Does It Matter?

Reading fluency is more than just speed. According to the National Reading Panel (2000), fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. Fluent readers don’t have to labor over each sound—they recognize words quickly and can focus their attention on understanding what they read.

Fluency serves as a bridge between decoding and comprehension. Without it, a child may know phonics rules but still struggle to make sense of text because the effort of decoding overwhelms their cognitive bandwidth.

Why Re-Reading Decodable Books Works

In a Montessori environment—where independence, repetition, and mastery are foundational—re-reading fits seamlessly with core principles of practice and child development.

Here’s why it works:

1. Builds Automaticity

Each re-read strengthens a child’s brain pathways. With every return to a familiar text, decoding becomes smoother and faster. Eventually, words that once required sound-by-sound effort are recognized instantly—a key milestone in reading fluency.

2. Reduces Cognitive Load

When the mechanics of decoding become automatic, a child’s brain is freed up to focus on meaning, tone, and comprehension—core aspects of reading success.

This aligns beautifully with Montessori principles of deep engagement and concentration, allowing the child to connect with the material rather than just “get through it.”

3. Builds Confidence and Independence

There’s nothing like the moment when a child says, “I can read this one all by myself!” Re-reading gives children a sense of ownership. As the text becomes more familiar, their confidence soars—encouraging self-direction and intrinsic motivation.

4. Supports Mastery of High-Frequency and Tricky Words

Most decodable books—like those created by Montessori Makers Learning—include intentional exposure to sight words and tricky words. Repetition helps these words become part of the child’s visual memory bank, supporting faster recognition in future texts.

Montessori Connection: The Role of Repetition

Repetition in Montessori isn’t “drill and kill”—it’s choice-driven, interest-led, and self-paced. We often see children return to the same material (the Golden Beads, the Moveable Alphabet, a favorite phonetic object box) until they reach personal mastery. Re-reading decodable books is a direct extension of this developmental pattern.

How to Support Re-Reading in the Classroom

Here are a few best practices for getting the most out of re-reading:

• Make it a habit so the child knows that this is just a part of the process. Ownership matters.

• Encourage expression and intonation during re-reads to build prosody.

• Pair with follow-up questions: "What part was your favorite this time?" or "Did you notice anything new today?"

• Model your own re-reading by sharing your favorite books and stories that you’ve enjoyed more than once.

Helpful Resources

• Montessori Makers Learning Decodable Book Series – Includes sight word and tricky word lists to scaffold re-reading and fluency.

• The Fluent Reader by Timothy Rasinski – A foundational book on the research and strategies for building fluency. While this isn't a Montessori resource, it does have some helpful information to understand various strategies for improving fluency in readers, particularly when thinking about elementary-aged children.

✨ Final Thought

Re-reading is not a sign of going backward—it’s a sign of moving forward with intention. Just as Montessori materials are designed for repetition and refinement, so too are decodable books meant to be revisited with joy and purpose.

At Montessori Makers Learning, we encourage educators to celebrate each re-read as a step toward confident, capable, and fluent reading.

What Makes a Book Truly Decodable? A Montessori Educator’s Guide

In Montessori classrooms, we pride ourselves on materials that meet children where they are—carefully structured, sequential, and designed for independent exploration. Decodable books should be no exception.

Yet with so many early readers marketed as "decodable," how can educators and parents ensure they’re choosing books that actually support a child’s reading journey?

Let’s break down the key features of quality decodable texts—and red flags to avoid—so you can confidently select books that align with both the Science of Reading and Montessori principles.

✅ The 4 Essentials of a Decodable Book

1. Phonics Alignment

A true decodable follows a systematic scope and sequence, mirroring a structured progression. Think of the popular Montessori’s Pink, Blue, and Green Series:

• Starts with simple CVC words (cat, sit) before introducing digraphs (ship, thin).

• Avoids "leapfrogging" skills (e.g., no silent e words before the child masters blends).

• Prioritizes high-frequency sound-spellings first (short vowels before /igh/ or /ough/).

Montessori Tip: Introduce decodables after Phonetic Reading Cards.

2. Limited Irregular Words

Early decodables should include fewer than 1 irregular word per 20 words. When "heart words" (the, said) appear, they should be:

• Intentionally introduced (not sprinkled randomly).

• Repeated for mastery.

Example: A book focusing on short a might include "The cat sat" but avoid "The cat jumped on the sofa."

3. Cumulative Progression

Skills should build incrementally, with:

• New patterns layered onto mastered ones (e.g., CVC → blends → silent e).

• Repetition of previously taught phonics rules for fluency.

Red Flag: A book that introduces ee (/ē/) on page 1 but never revisits it.

4. Montessori-Aligned Design

Even the format of a decodable book should honor Montessori values:

• Uncluttered pages (minimal distracting illustrations).

• Realistic stories.

• Child-centered topics (nature, practical life, or cultural themes).

📝 Red Flags to Avoid

Not all "decodables" are created equal. Steer clear of books with: ✖ Inconsistent phonics patterns (mixing long and short vowels randomly).✖ Over-reliance on pictures (children should decode the words, not guess from images).

Where to Find This as a Usable List

Free Download: ["What Makes a Book Decodable?" Checklist]

Final Thought

Decodable books aren’t just about reading—they’re about empowering children to unlock language independently, one phonetic pattern at a time. By choosing books that align with both evidence-based literacy and Montessori philosophy, we honor the child’s natural path to mastery.

Have you used decodables in your Montessori classroom? Let us know in the comments!

Montessori Makers Learning Launches Decodable Books to Support Early Literacy

At Montessori Makers Learning, we’re on a mission to examine and enhance Montessori education for the modern classroom. We believe that while Montessori principles are timeless, the educational tools we use to implement those principles should evolve with the times. That's why we're excited to introduce our very first offering: a set of Decodable Books designed specifically to support early literacy in a way that complements the Montessori method.

What Are Decodable Books?

Decodable books are a powerful tool for teaching early reading skills. These books focus on phonics-based reading instruction, helping children learn to decode words by recognizing letter-sound relationships. The approach is grounded in the Science of Reading, a research-based methodology that emphasizes systematic, explicit phonics instruction.

For young readers, decoding words is a crucial step toward independent reading, and decodable books are specifically designed to reinforce these skills in a meaningful, structured way. Our Decodable Book Series includes 96 books, broken into 8 sets, each targeting different phonics skills, including:

• CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant patterns)

• Digraphs & Blends

• Endings

• Long vowel patterns

• R-controlled vowels

• Multisyllabic words

• Advanced phonics patterns

Why Montessori Makers Decodable Books Are Special

The Montessori classroom is all about independence, exploration, and self-directed learning. Our Decodable Book Series aligns with these principles by allowing children to work through the books at their own pace, providing them with the freedom to explore their growing reading skills independently. The books are designed to be easy to navigate, and they support the natural progression of phonics skills, helping children feel confident as they master new skills.

What makes these books even more special is the use of vibrant, real photographic images and illustrations. Many of the books feature scenes set in the Montessori classroom, creating a familiar and relatable context for young readers. These visuals not only enhance engagement but also help children connect the stories to their own lives.

The books are also color-coded to align with Montessori materials, such as the colored beads, used for learning. This thoughtful design ensures that the books fit seamlessly into the Montessori environment, making it easy for children to navigate through the sets as they progress in their reading journey.

Supporting the Montessori Method with Modern Tools

While these decodable books are designed to support early literacy, they also honor the Montessori method by fostering independence, confidence, and joy in learning. They do not replace any existing Montessori materials but are a complementary resource that enhances early reading development in a way that aligns with both Montessori principles and the Science of Reading.

At Montessori Makers Learning, we’re committed to creating materials that honor the rich tradition of Montessori education while adapting to the needs of today’s learners. Our Decodable Books are just the beginning. We’ll continue to work to develop resources that support teachers in creating environments that are nurturing, inclusive, adaptive, and effective for children of all backgrounds and learning needs.

Discover Montessori Makers Materials

We believe in empowering educators and inspiring children to become independent, joyful learners. If you’re ready to incorporate innovative, evidence-based materials into your Montessori classroom, we invite you to explore. Our first product, the Decodable Book Series, is just one example of how we’re transforming the Montessori experience—one material at a time. Check out our FAQ page to learn more about them!

Discover more and take the first step toward transforming your Montessori classroom by ordering your first set of Decodable Books today!