What Are Decodable and Levelled Readers?
ePlatform provides separate collections of Decodable Readers and Levelled Readers for developing readers. The collections organise books differently and provide different reading tools.
Decodable Readers follow a phonetic sequence. Levelled Readers are organised by general reading difficulty.
On this page
- Decodable and Levelled Readers compared
- What are Decodable Readers?
- What are Levelled Readers?
- Which collection should I use?
- Available reading tools
- Loans and simultaneous access
Decodable and Levelled Readers compared
| Feature | Decodable Readers | Levelled Readers |
|---|---|---|
| Organisation | Organised by phonetic progression across ten levels. | Organised by general reading difficulty. |
| Content | Fiction and Non-Fiction containing the letter-sound relationships introduced at each level. | High-interest Fiction and Non-Fiction for a range of primary reading levels. |
| Reading tools | Includes specialised phonics tools, activities, narration, and instructional pages. | Uses a fixed layout that preserves the original illustrations and text placement. |
| Display settings | Uses its own specialised Decodable Reader tools instead of the standard eBook settings. | Standard font and text-size settings are unavailable because the books use a fixed layout. |
What are Decodable Readers?
ePlatform’s SuperLit Decodable Readers are phonics-based books designed to help students master specific letter-sound relationships.
The collection is organised into ten levels across Fiction and Non-Fiction. Each level introduces a controlled set of phonetic sounds so students can read texts containing the sounds they have already learned.
The levels are supported by Scope and Sequence documents aligned with curriculum requirements in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Decodable Reader features
SuperLit Decodable Readers include:
- Click-to-Sound-Out: select a word to hear it segmented phonetically.
- Coloured Read-Along: words highlight in time with professional narration.
- Soundscapes: Fiction titles include contextual background audio after the narration.
- Pre-reading activities: Super Sounds, phonics activities, and high-frequency words prepare students for the text.
- Post-reading activities: glossaries, Super Words, high-frequency-word practice, questions, and discussion prompts reinforce learning.
What are Levelled Readers?
Levelled Readers are organised by reading difficulty rather than phonetic sequence. They provide a broader collection of high-interest Fiction and Non-Fiction for primary readers.
The collection includes series such as Maxx Rumble and BookLife.
Levelled Readers use a fixed layout similar to a PDF. This preserves the original illustrations and text placement, but means standard eBook settings such as font style and text size cannot be changed.
Which collection should I use?
- Choose a Decodable Reader when the reader is following a phonics sequence or practising specific letter-sound relationships.
- Choose a Levelled Reader when the reader needs a book matched to a broader reading-difficulty level.
Decodable Readers can also support older students who need to strengthen gaps in their phonetic knowledge. The Non-Fiction collection provides topics such as science, history, and nature while maintaining a controlled phonetic level.
Available reading tools
Decodable and Levelled Readers are designed differently from standard eBooks:
- Decodable Readers replace the standard eBook settings with phonics-specific tools such as Click-to-Sound-Out and Coloured Read-Along.
- Levelled Readers use a fixed layout and do not provide the standard eBook display settings or Immersive Reader.
Loans and simultaneous access
SuperLit Decodable Readers support unlimited, simultaneous use. An entire class or year group can open the same Decodable Reader at the same time without needing to reserve it.