Intended for the language arts teacher, this book focuses on how to develop children's language skills. The opening chapter of the book presents a brief overview of child language acquisition, children's language abilities at a particular age, and how these abilities develop. The second chapter, on the importance of children's literature, is based on the premise that children's own language should be influenced by well-written adult language. Uses of literature are described and the functions of a planned program of literature experiences are enumerated. The sequence of activities presented in the third chapter makes it possible for the teacher to ensure that the students will be better listeners when they leave the classroom than when they arrived. Chapter four, on oral language, suggests ways teachers can organize the environment and plan lessons to develop oral fluency. The fifth chapter, on reading readiness, suggests that in every classroom children are preparing to read, and focuses on ways a teacher develops interest in coping with print. The language experience approach to reading, seen as fitting most naturally into this total program, is described at some length. The last chapter, focusing on writing, includes activities suitable through third grade and samples showing children's range of abilities when writing. The book concludes with suggestions for further study and reading. (HOD)