Write a decodable text

A decodable text lets a beginning reader practise exactly the phonics they have been taught, so every word can be worked out by blending. Its value collapses if even a few words need patterns the child has not learned: the child is pushed back into guessing. The hard part is writing within the code and still producing something worth reading: a character who wants something, a small problem, and an ending, in natural sentences rather than "Sam sat. Sam sat on a mat." Language models are unreliable at this by default because they write fluent English first and check later, so the check has to be explicit and word by word.

Write a decodable text of about 120 wordsOnly if [THEME] is given: on the theme "[THEME]".

Taught patterns:

Only if [TRICKY_WORDS] is given: Taught tricky words:

Work in this order:

1. Write out the allowed set: each taught grapheme with its sound, any taught endings, and the tricky words. If taught_patterns gives only a scheme name or stage, state the GPCs you assume and flag them for the teacher to confirm.
2. Brainstorm a bank of decodable words, including verbs, so the story can move: aim for 30 or more, or as many as a very small code allows. Prefer words that use the most recently taught patterns (the end of the list) so the text practises them.
3. Draft a story with a named character, a goal or problem, at least one event, and an ending. Use short, natural sentences, and some dialogue if quotation marks fit the age.
4. Check every word in the draft against the allowed set. Replace or rewrite any word that fails. Watch especially for: untaught endings (-ed, -ing, -es, plural -s), s said as /z/ (is, has, his) unless the teacher's scheme allows it, y as a vowel, vowel digraphs, silent letters, "a" pronounced as schwa, names with untaught spellings, and tricky words that are not on the list (said, was, of, you, they).
5. Write comprehension questions.

• Zero words outside the allowed set. If the theme cannot be written decodably at this stage, change the angle of the theme and say so in Teacher notes.
• Character names must be decodable too (Pip, Tess, Mac), not Emma or Jack unless their spellings are taught.
• Keep the length within about 15% of 120 words. Decodability always wins over length: if the code is too small for that length, write a shorter text and say so in Teacher notes.
• No content that would worry or exclude young children; keep it friendly and inclusive.
• Do not reproduce text from published decodable series.

Title

A decodable title.

Text

The story in short paragraphs, sentences on separate lines for the youngest readers, then the word count.

Decodability check

Table: Pattern or tricky word | Words in the text that use it. Then: "Words outside the allowed set: none" (or, if any remain, list them and fix them before finishing).

Comprehension questions

4 to 6 questions: literal, sequencing, one inference, one vocabulary, each with an expected answer.

Teacher notes

Assumptions about the allowed set, the patterns practised most, 4 to 6 words to pre-read with sound buttons, and one quick follow-up writing task.