The zone of proximal development provides guidance to the teacher in taking care of selected prerequisites, prior to pupils doing the actual reading. Three models are presented and elaborated upon to indicate what can be done to fulfill requirements of the zone of proximal reading. The zone may be applied in relation to reading from basal texts through the process of ascertaining present reading levels, realizing ideal reading levels, noting the zone of proximal development and providing applicable activities and experiences, and reappraising the zone to take care of deficiencies. The zone may be fulfilled in student self-selection of reading materials through selection of sequential library books and student-teacher reading conferences evaluating the student's progress. With relation to the Language Experience Approach (LEA), the zone of proximal development may be applied through the following steps: involving objects in the reading process, talking about them, writing down the discussion, and reading what has been written down. Multiple Intelligences Theory may be used in assisting pupils to reveal what has been learned. (EF)