The New York City Board of Education's Title I program, "Learning to Read through the Arts," teaches skills in reading through involvement in the arts, builds self-confidence, improves self-image, and adds to the experiences of the participating children. If children are able to read material and apply the information thus acquired to some practical purpose, the children become interested in what they are reading and recall it with greater ease. The artist-teachers in the program build on the language the child already knows by using a language experience approach in their reading-oriented arts workshop, which may include dance, music, theatre, painting, sculpture, or crafts. Reading proficiency is developed through following directions, drawing inferences, thinking sequentially, and using specialized vocabulary. Class journals, logs, and diaries are kept, in which information and directions acquired in the workshop and reactions to field trips are recorded regularly. Children apply reading skills through writing movie scripts and poetry, reading dramatic skits, and writing autobiographies. The program associates itself with major cultural institutions in the community, and students have an opportunity to showcase their original works in an annual exhibition and a performing arts and film festival. Program evaluations indicate that students have improved an average of one to two months in reading for each month they have participated in the program. (HTH)