This program visits two kindergarten classrooms and one first grade classroom to show how whole language techniques are used to teach beginning reading and writing. The program provides a detailed description of how the three basic "cuing systems" that children use to "decode" text are integrated into every classroom activity. The effectiveness of literature-based teaching is demonstrated in the classroom use of theme-based curricula, "big book" oral reading, meaningful work, response journals, peer teaching, the acceptance of invented spelling in first drafts of written work, and the constant emphasis on children viewing themselves as successful readers and writers. (28 minutes)