Findings of a seminar which explored the current linguistics methods of teaching elementary reading and examined the background of this approach and some programs constant with it are presented. The seminar established the following set of criteria for describing the important characteristics of a linguistics method: (1) task definitions of decoding, comprehension, and reacting; (2) considerations of phonological, morphological, and syntactic levels in building materials; (3) contrasts of pattern presentation; (4) patterns emerging from story content; (5) word analysis; (6) inductive or deductive processes; (7) correspondence regularity; (8) nonsense materials; (9) vocabulary choices; (10) picture usage; (11) specific emphasis on intonation and stress; (12) specific listening and speaking activities; (13) writing activities; and (14) formal testing provisions. The results of applying these criteria to seve n reading series are presented. References are given. (JB)