Developed as the basic text for preservice teachers in an elementary reading methods course, this book aims to develop insightful teachers empowered to make logical reflective decisions about reading instruction. The book is an integrative text, based on the assumption that effective teachers of reading must understand both what to do during instruction and why it should be done. The book translates the most consistent research findings into practice, presents the major perspectives in reading education, describes a comprehensive range of instructional practices, and shows teachers how to select and modify practices that are consistent with their perspectives and the individual needs of students. Chapters in the book are: (1) The Challenge and the Rewards; (2) Developing a Literacy Framework; (3) Material and Method Frameworks: Applying Initial Insights about Reading; (4) The Central Role of Children's Literature; (5) Connecting Reading and Writing; (6) Facilitating Beginning Readers' Emerging Literacy; (7) Decoding and Literacy; (8) Vocabulary and Literacy; (9) Comprehension of Extended Text; (10) Content-Area Reading and Study Skills; (11) Supporting Literacy through Assessment; (12) Including all Children in Your Reading Program; (13) Classroom Organization; and (14) Supporting Literacy with Computers and Related Technologies. Appendixes include lists of Newbery Medal winners and Caldecott Medal winners as well as name and subject indexes. (RS)