Creative understanding as a facet of comprehension is the prime objective of reading instruction. Understanding what is read is basic to any aspect of learning, but the learner should be prepared to go beyond mere understanding and to use information gained to further enrich his experiences and knowledge through critical analysis, creative interpretation, retention, and functional reading. To help the learner develop these abilities, the following keys are suggested for instructional emphasis: perception, communication, vocabulary, interest, and utility. The learner needs an adequate accumulation of percepts and a rich experiential background from which to draw concepts and understandings. He needs help in bringing meaning to and getting meaning from the reading material. He needs an expanding vocabulary and reading materials filled with interest-arousing situations which challenge him to discover the more subtle meanings and inferences of the author. He needs to know the importance of reading as a tool of learning in all areas of the curriculum. Then he will be free to read. (NS)