The processes children use when learning to read and write seem mutually supportive, so the incorporation of writing prior to and in conjunction with reading seems advisable. Writing activities in the basal readers can be used instead of or along with parts of the core lesson, not just in the enrichment section. And by listening to a variety of literature, a child develops a sense of story. Beginning readers need to discover the rules of writing just as they discovered oral language: by practicing, making errors, and then receiving appropriate and positive feedback. For the older children, writing increases their awareness of printed words. The classroom should provide an environment that is filled with print, and the teacher needs to demonstrate that reading and writing are meaningful activities. (Twenty-six references are attached.) (RS)