Decodable Books for Tier 2 Reading Intervention in NZ Classrooms

Tier 2 groups sit in an awkward spot. The children in them aren't in Tier 1 whole-class instruction anymore, but they're not yet at the intensity of a Tier 3 individual intervention either. What they need from a decodable book is narrower and more specific than either: text that matches exactly where the group stalled, with enough repetition to close the gap without feeling like a step backward.

What a Tier 2 group actually needs from a decodable

• Tight decodability, no sounds the group hasn't been taught yet, no exceptions to explain around
• A clear phonics stage, so you can place the whole group at the same starting point even if their reasons for being there differ
• Enough books at that stage to get real repeated practice before moving on
• Stories that don't read as younger than the group, particularly for Year 2 and 3 groups working below grade level
• A format that works for small-group reading aloud, not just independent silent reading

Matching a group to where it stalled

Innerlinks Sets are built around a phonics stage, not a grade level, which is the more useful unit for placing a Tier 2 group.

Set 1 covers first CVC blending, the right starting point if a group is still guessing at short vowel words rather than blending them.

Set 2 adds the remaining consonants and short u and e, useful for groups who have the earliest sounds but stall as soon as new consonants appear.

Set 3 works through less frequent letters, often where groups plateau after an initial round of Tier 1 catch-up.

Set 4 reviews short vowels with consonant clusters, a common sticking point for groups who can blend but not yet segment clusters.

Set 5 covers digraphs and glued endings, typically the stage where a Tier 2 group is close to exiting back to Tier 1 pace.

Running one title across a mixed-pace small group

Tier 2 groups are rarely perfectly matched. Classroom bundles include multiple copies of each title in a Set, so a group working at the same phonics stage can read the same book together even if individual fluency varies, and a specialist or teacher can hear each child read the same known-decodable text without needing five different titles in one session.

Dyslexia-friendly by default

Many Tier 2 groups include children who are dyslexic or in the process of being assessed. Every Innerlinks book uses generous letter and word spacing and a cream page rather than bright white, which reduces visual stress without requiring a separate dyslexia-specific product line. The same books work for the whole group.

Quick questions

How is this different from what we already do in Tier 1?

Tier 1 books usually follow a whole-class scope and sequence at grade pace. Tier 2 needs the group anchored to the exact phonics stage where they stalled, which is often a stage or two behind where Tier 1 has already moved on to.

How do I pick a starting Set for a new group?

Start with the last phonics stage the group can blend reliably without support, then choose the Set just above it. If you're not sure, the scope and sequence lays out exactly which sounds sit in each Set.

Can one title work for a group with mixed fluency?

Yes, as long as the group shares the same phonics stage. Fluency varies within a stage more than decodability does, so the same book stays appropriate even as reading speed differs child to child.

Do you offer bundles sized for small groups?

Yes. Classroom bundles include multiple copies of each title in a Set, sized for small-group and intervention use. Reach out through the contact page for school orders.

Where to start

Browse the complete Sets to see all five phonics stages, or check the scope and sequence to place a group precisely before you buy.