This paper advocates the use of "intrinsic" activities, such as the language experience approach and individualized reading, to teach beginning reading. Unlike "extrinsic" approaches, which depend on texts or other external motivators to stimulate learning, intrinsic methods exploit the internal desire of the child to acquire knowledge. Suggestions are detailed for using experience charts or teacher/pupil dictation, key vocabulary, the alphabet, writing, and good literature to teach reading. Ultimately, the goal of such techniques is to facilitate students' selection of reading materials. Independent learning centers, record-keeping procedures, individual conferences, group teaching, modified behavioral objectives, and curriculum development can all be directed towards this goal. (KS)