How to Use Fiction and Nonfiction Decodable Books During Small-Group Reading Instruction

Small-group reading instruction is one of the most effective ways to provide targeted support for developing readers. When students are grouped by instructional need and provided with texts that match the phonics skills they have been been taught, they are more likely to experience success, build confidence, and transfer their learning into authentic reading.

One question we hear frequently from teachers is:

Should I use fiction or nonfiction decodable books during small-group instruction?

Our answer is simple:

Use both.

When fiction and nonfiction decodable books are aligned to the same phonics scope and sequence, students can practice the same decoding skill across multiple text types while building both reading proficiency and background knowledge.

Why Small Groups Matter

Whole-group phonics instruction provides the foundation, but small groups allow teachers to meet students where they are.

During small-group instruction, teachers can:

• Target specific phonics skills
• Provide immediate feedback
• Monitor decoding accuracy
• Support fluency development
• Differentiate instruction
• Increase student reading practice

The key is ensuring that students are reading texts that match the phonics skills they have already learned.

When texts are too difficult, students often resort to guessing. When texts are aligned to instruction, students can successfully apply what they have been taught.

Why Use Fiction Decodable Books?

Fiction decodable books provide opportunities for students to:

• Follow a storyline
• Connect with characters
• Build reading stamina
• Develop confidence
• Practice decoding in connected text

Many students enjoy the predictability and engagement that stories provide.

A fiction decodable book allows students to focus on applying newly learned phonics skills while enjoying a meaningful reading experience.

For example, after teaching a target phonics skill, students may read a fiction decodable book during small group to practice that skill in context.

Why Use Nonfiction Decodable Books?

Nonfiction decodable books offer different benefits.

Students can:

• Build background knowledge
• Learn new vocabulary
• Explore science and social studies topics
• Read informational text features
• Develop content-area knowledge

Many students are naturally curious about the world around them. Informational texts tap into that curiosity while providing additional opportunities to practice decoding.

When nonfiction books are aligned to the same phonics progression as fiction books, teachers do not have to choose between phonics practice and knowledge building.

Students can have both.

The Power of Using Both Genres

One of the most effective ways to strengthen reading development is to provide multiple opportunities to apply the same skill.

For example:

A student learns a new phonics skill during instruction.

Next, the student reads a fiction decodable book aligned to that skill.

Then, the student reads a nonfiction decodable book aligned to the same skill.

Although the genre changes, the phonics focus remains the same.

This additional practice helps students:

• Strengthen decoding accuracy
• Increase automaticity
• Generalize phonics knowledge
• Build reading confidence
• Develop vocabulary and knowledge

The result is more opportunities for successful reading.

A Sample Small-Group Routine

Many teachers use a routine similar to the following:

Step 1: Review Previously Taught Skills

Begin with a brief review of sounds, phonics patterns, or heart words.

Step 2: Teach or Reinforce the Target Skill

Provide explicit instruction and guided practice.

Step 3: Read a Fiction Decodable Book

Students apply the target skill while reading connected text.

Discuss the characters, setting, and events in the story.

Step 4: Read a Nonfiction Decodable Book

Students apply the same target skill while reading informational text.

Discuss key facts, vocabulary, and text features.

Step 5: Follow Up With Encoding

Provide opportunities for students to spell words, write sentences, or complete dictation activities aligned to the target skill.

This sequence strengthens the connection between decoding and encoding while increasing meaningful reading practice.  The schedule below shows one example of how teachers can incorporate both fiction and nonfiction decodable books throughout the week.

The schedule below shows one example of how teachers can incorporate both fiction and nonfiction decodable books throughout a week of small group instruction. 

Fiction and nonfiction lessons aligned to the decodables elevate the instruction and provide teachers with the games, activities and scripts for successful small groups because everything is done and provided for the teacher...no curating or outsourcing of other extra resources needed, it's all been done for you. 

How Hello Decodables Supports Small-Group Instruction

Hello Decodables was designed to support teacher-led small-group instruction.

Our collection includes:

• 60 fiction decodable books
• 60 nonfiction decodable books
• Real photographs in nonfiction texts
• A shared phonics scope and sequence
• Systematic skill progression
• Science of Reading-aligned instruction

Because both genres follow the same progression, teachers can easily provide multiple reading opportunities without searching for additional texts that match instruction.

Students can practice the same phonics skill through stories and informational texts while building confidence as readers.

Final Thoughts

Small-group instruction is most effective when students are provided with texts that match what they have been taught.

By using both fiction and nonfiction decodable books aligned to the same phonics scope and sequence, teachers can increase reading practice, strengthen phonics transfer, build knowledge, and create more opportunities for successful reading.

When students encounter the same skill across multiple texts and genres, they gain the practice needed to become confident, capable readers.

Explore Hello Decodables

Ready to support small-group instruction with aligned fiction and nonfiction decodable books?

• Browse Fiction Decodable Books
• Explore Nonfiction Decodable Books
• View the Hello Decodables Scope and Sequence
• Learn More About Hello Decodables