The Key Stage 3 National Strategy and the National Association for the Teaching of English worked in partnership to provide this publication of a resource designed to support teachers of English. The resource consists of classroom materials for three short units of work in years 7, 8, and 9. These are intended to foster and develop independent reading at Key Stage 3. The lessons use active reading strategies to address specific objectives in the "Framework for Teaching English: Years 7, 8, and 9" through small group reading of fiction and drama texts. Detailed support material is provided on the Web for five texts in each of Years 7, 8, and 9. This consists of 11 group reading sessions per text, two of which involve teacher-guided sessions. The prime focus of each unit is to encourage pupils to engage in active and interactive reading and discussion of the selected texts. Speaking and listening skills are given a high profile. The last two lessons of each unit are allocated to group preparation of a visual/oral presentation of their text to the rest of the class. (PM)