Placing reading instruction in a child-centered, language-rich environment, this book provides preservice elementary teachers at the undergraduate and introductory graduate level with a detailed understanding of how to implement a developmental reading program. The book discusses the role of basal readers, and also discusses teaching reading without commercial materials through an integrated language arts approach. Each chapter in the third edition of the book presents study aids before, during, and after the core material, as well as summaries of key concepts in a form that can be used in communication with parents, and lists of additional readings and practical teaching references. Chapters in the book are: (1) Foundation of a Classroom Reading Program; (2) Creating a Classroom Language Environment; (3) Learning to Read; (4) Instruction Using the Basal Reader; (5) Language-Centered and Child-Centered Reading Instruction; (6) Decoding Development; (7) Developing Meaning Vocabulary; (8) Comprehension and Content-Area Reading; (9) Studying for Independent Learning; (10) Assessing Reading Abilities; (11) Writing across the Curriculum; (12) Working with Second-Language Learners; and (13) Teaching Reading to Children with Mild Disabilities. (RS)