The classroom use of the key vocabulary, developed by Sylvia Ashton-Warner as a reading approach--rather than as a reading method--which utilizes the child's actual experience, is the major concern of this book. Materials used and tested for a number of years present examples, outlines, and various methods for eliciting children's dramas through language. Chapters focus on the initiation of this reading approach in the classroom, the value of the key vocabulary, children's exposure to books, the necessity of story writing, independent activities for children, skill development and phonics, grouping according to needs, and three research studies of the vocabulary reading approach. Also included are a bibliography, references, and an index. (JM)