This article presents the findings of an observation study of reading lessons in English at Primary Three in Singapore. The aims of the study were first to establish whether a common pedagogy to teach reading in English exists at this transition year of children's schooling, and second what the cultural effects of this pedagogy might be for children. In the article I show how features in common over the observed lessons form a pedagogy derived internationally. Next, through a detailed analysis of this pedagogy, a locally written text and the talk around the text in a single lesson, I show and discuss the possible cultural consequences of the pedagogy for Singaporean children. (Contains 4 tables.)