Intended for reading instructors of kindergarten through grade 8 students, this book offers a comprehensive view of the skills needed for a student to become an effective, lifetime reader. Instead of presenting a method for teaching reading, it presents the skills common to most reading programs. Chapters in the first section discuss the history of the development of reading instruction, the reading climate, and the fundamentals of reading instruction. Section two presents the scope and sequence for the activities, then the reading curriculum for each grade as a series of skills statements related to the three broad categories of reading skills development, comprehension development, and research and study skills. Beginning with the second grade, a summary check list of skills is included. To reflect shifts in emphasis, these skills are also grouped into three categories according to grade: primary, elementary, and junior high school. Evaluation of reading progress is discussed in the third section. Topics covered include the assessment climate, nonstandardized and standardized assessment instruments, and recording and reporting assessment data. Appended is a list of states with minimum standards for reading. The book concludes with a bibliography and index. (HTH)