Reading First is a federal initiative authorized by the No Child Left Behind Act. The U.S. Department of Education provides Reading First grants to states, which, in turn, award subgrants to eligible school districts that submit approved proposals for how they will apply scientifically based reading research to improve reading instruction and student achievement. The common goal of the U.S. Department of Education, the states, and the local school districts is for all students to be reading at or above grade level by the end of third grade. This goal was established because children who are not proficient readers by the end of fourth grade are not likely ever to be proficient readers. It is wiser to ensure that students are good readers in the primary grades than to wait until their last chance may have passed and then try to provide remedial reading instruction that may not work. The Reading First initiative provides guidance on several key elements, which can be thought of as four "pillars" of an effective reading program. The four pillars are as follows: (1) Valid and Reliable Assessments; (2) Instructional Programs and Aligned Materials; (3) Aligned Professional Development; and (4) Dynamic Instructional Leadership. This document focuses on the second pillar, instructional programs and aligned materials. Its purpose is to provide teachers with a clear, concise review of strategies for teaching reading, drawn from scientifically based reading research. It is organized around the five essential components of effective reading instruction and the methods of explicit and systematic instruction identified by the National Reading Panel and applied through the Reading First initiative. The document includes: (1) Concise summaries of research findings; (2) Descriptions of effective instructional strategies; (3) Lesson excerpts illustrating these strategies in use; and (4) References and resources for more in-depth exploration of specific topics. This information will give teachers a better understanding of how the five essential components of effective reading instruction can be implemented in the classroom.