The language experience approach (LEA) is a means of using the knowledge of language and one's life experiences to create materials for reading and thoughtful consideration. Therefore, LEA seems to be a viable approach to use both with students who are not familiar with the language used or experiences described in a textbook and with older students who are deficient in their reading ability, as well as to teach writing in conjunction with reading. In the LEA, the teacher provides students with a stimulus, such as a picture, object, film, or song, and after a period of thought, students give their comments or interpretations and select key words. The students then think about a story they would like to write that is related to the stimulus and develop an outline. A first draft is written, and spelling, sentence construction, and word choice are discussed. A final draft is completed, and the story is "published" for other students in the class to read. Such an approach allows the teacher to seek out those topics and areas of interest that students may be eager to learn about, read about, and write about. (HTH)