The three articles in this monograph describe and analyze the graphoneme (a closed syllable that begins with a vowel and ends with a consonant, semivowel, or silent "e") and its usefulness in the teaching of reading. The first article discusses the graphoneme concept as a systemized approach to initial reading instruction, while the second article describes a reading and language development project that used materials based on research related to graphonemes. The third article details a study that surveyed the vocabulary of elementary school children in order to determine which graphonemes should be taught in a program of initial reading instruction. The word sample used in the study is appended. (FL)