Until children master the skills of phonics, word recognition, spelling, handwriting, etc., they are not ready to do actual reading or writing. The sequences of isolated skills in teacher's manuals for basal readers and in standardized tests mirror developmental stages of growth. Children learn best when they read from simplified basal readers that tightly control vocabulary and sentence structure. For primary children such textbooks are often organized around phonic patterns. Writing instructions begins with handwriting and copying to master the basic skills.
Punctuation is learned through workbook and ditto sheet exercises.
Children who cannot be made to work on skill sheets may be diagnosed as behavior problems. Children choose their own reading material much of the time. Skills are acquired naturally in the context of meaningful oral interaction and literacy events. Objects and learning centers in primary classrooms frequently have labels. Sets of directions, including information on storing materials, are written on charts or activity cards to guide children's engagement with materials.