A practicum aimed to strengthen the reading abilities of first grade students. Objectives included having first graders: (1) strengthen phonetic and decoding skills; (2) progress to grade level in the basal reading series; and (3) master a problem solving process that would enrich critical thinking skills. Subjects, 52 first grade students, received instruction over a 12-week period which incorporated phonics instruction into the current whole language and basal approach to teaching reading, and which taught a step-by-step problem solving process. Methods, materials, and lesson plans were provided to teachers. Results indicated partial achievement of the goals. While the mastery of phonetics skills was attained, neither of the other two objectives were attained. Implementation of the practicum did provide for improvement and provided students with a positive attitude toward reading. (Five tables of data are included, and 9 appendixes containing phonics and problem-solving pretests and posttests and sample lesson plans are attached.) (SR)