Teaching practices in Italy, where teachers combine three different methods for teaching reading, may provide insight into ways to improve methodologies in the United States. The first method is the natural method, which, unlike American methods, teaches reading and writing simultaneously with the emphasis on writing. The teacher writes as children dictate, then the children copy the teacher's writing, first words then sentences. The second method of teaching reading and writing is the phonic/syllabic, or traditional, method in which vowels are introduced, then consonants, then whole words and word parts, all reinforced by writing. The third method is the global method, which is rooted in vocabulary, particularly idiomatic expressions. Qualifying or signal words that change the meaning of the text are stressed with children writing an essay or reading a story following exercises using such words. The school printing press is also widely used by Italian children. Because of the emphasis on writing, far fewer books are available for children's use in Italy. Instead, extensive use is made of newsprint, chart paper, index cards, and teacher made materials. The concept of play, in the educational rather than recreational sense, is also predominant in Italian schools, reducing stress and intensity for children as they learn to read and write. (HTH)