The Scarecrows of Crowhill

December 1, 2024

Gr 2-3-In the ninth set of this series, texts become increasingly engaging and begin to feel more like trade books. By this point, students will have mastered most of the syllable types needed to decode the majority of English words and they can use what they have learned to build independence and practice fluency and deeper comprehension. Some titles in this series span genres like fantasy, realistic fiction, and mystery, providing a range of options for a variety of readers. While some titles are better executed than others, the content as a whole feels more kid friendly. Comprehension questions at the end of the book include literal, inferential, and multiple-choice questions. Students will be more engaged with the content and therefore build stamina, making them better equipped to move towards reading chapter books and short fiction. VERDICT It remains unclear which specific phonics skills are being targeted here, and this set feels more like leveled readers than decodables, but are still worthwhile tools for building fluency, engagement, and stamina.

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