In this article, I (a) overview the ebbs and flows of two beginning reading approaches (code-emphasis and balanced instruction) used in U.S. schools from 1950 to the present; (b) compare and contrast the two instructional approaches; and (c) suggest some simple assessment procedures that can be used to measure student learning. In closing, I recommend continued use and study of both methods (and possible hybrids), including the documentation of their effectiveness with "at-risk" readers at the mid-point and end of first grade.