This paper discusses six instructional components that meet the literacy needs of all students and address all of the components of a balanced and comprehensive approach to reading instruction: (1) phonemic awareness (the understanding that spoken words and syllables are made up of sequences of elementary speech sounds); (2) letter names and shapes; (3) systematic, explicit phonics; (4) spelling; (5) vocabulary development; and (6) comprehension and higher-order thinking. The paper describes each component and offers research-based advice on instructional techniques. (RS)