Beginning reading instruction is a challenge that teachers can meet successfully by using imagination, working hard, displaying enthusiasm, and expressing genuine concern for the young children that they teach. This paper offers guidelines for beginning reading teachers who base their programs on traditional basal readers. The guidelines are summarized as follows: (1) Choose the preprimer with thought for its content and your students. (2) Spend time on prereading activities as you become acquainted with the class. (3) Make your classroom reflect the enjoyment of reading. (4) Teach the vocabulary of the first preprimer before letting children use the book, and use this period to "sort out" the pupils according to reading readiness and ability. (5) Introduce the first preprimer to only those children that have mastered the vocabulary. (6) Finally, make reading a "natural" part of the whole school day, integrating it with other course activities, especially writing. Some specific class reading activities (for groups, pairs, and individuals) are discussed. (RL)