This book presents practical information for those wanting to create elementary schools in which all children become readers and writers. It describes critical factors that can advance or impede the development of more effective educational settings, noting exemplary efforts in real schools and offering a variety of activities for taking stock of a school's educational efforts. The book focuses on how schools must change if they are to meet the educational demands of the 21st century. The 12 chapters look at: (1) "The Schools We Have: What We Must Change"; (2) "The Stories of Schools Where All Children Become Readers and Writers"; (3) "What Do We Now Know About Reading and Writing?"; (4) "Who Does What?"; (5) "The What of Reading: The Reading Curriculum"; (6) "Time: Minutes, Hours, Days, Weeks, Years"; (7) "Tests, Assessments, and Report Cards"; (8) "Professional Development: The Key to Change"; (9) "Family Involvement"; (10) "Schools That Work for All Children"; (11) "A Tour Through a School: What to Look For"; and (12) "Getting Started." (Contains 302 references.) (SM)