This book is about teaching beginning reading and writing. It is based on the belief that children can be taught to be more observant and conscious of the patterns at work as people communicate--particularly through reading and writing--and that teachers can use what children are able to do and what they are able to see to bring them rapidly and naturally into greater literacy. The three primary objectives of the book are: (1) to share the picture word inductive model (PWIM) for teaching beginning reading and writing; (2) to encourage the writing and reading of informative prose with beginning readers; and (3) to promote continuous focused inquiry into the development of literacy and into the results of teacher-and-student interactions. into the PWIM is the structure required to assess the needs and understandings of your students immediately, adjust the lesson in response, and to use explicit instruction and inductive activities. Chapters in the book are: (1) Glimpsing the Model in Kindergarten and 2nd Grade; (2) Describing the Picture Word Inductive Model; (3) Using the Model in a Language Arts Unit; (4) Designing Multidimensional Reading and Writing Instruction; (5) Getting Started in Your Classroom or School; and (6) Working with Older Beginning Readers. Contains 112 references; appendixes discuss explicit instruction and suggestions; concept attainment; vocabulary development; and reading aloud. (RS)