The language experience approach to teaching beginning reading uses a child's own language and experiences as the basis for the first reading material or lessons. The approach integrates the language arts skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The steps suggested for a teacher to follow in utilizing this approach are: (1) oral expression by the child with another person acting as a recorder, (2) oral expression with a recorder doing most of the writing and the student making some contribution, (3) writing by the student with the aid of the teacher or another person, and (4) writing by the student alone. Suggestions are given for developing language arts activities to use in the language experience approach. They include developing activities and discussions which relate to touch, taste, sound, sight, and smell; using community resource people as stimuli for language experiences; integrating language experience with content areas; using media to build a background of experience; writing autobiographies or biographies; and using opportunities for practical writing. Thirteen specific activities are described in detail, and examples of student writing are provided. (MKM)