Book excerpt: Note: Purchase this file once, and then make legal copies for your students. At the River presents a combination of interactive reading instructional techniques and sound ESL methodology to give low literate students a bridge to mainstream ESL textbooks. Each unit provides structured, scaffolded practice in writing and reading letters, letter combinations, words, sentences, and paragraphs. Clear illustrations reinforce both phonics and vocabulary for everyday situations. This effective, class-tested phonics and reading system enables even ESL teachers with no reading development training to teach nonliterate and semiliterate students how to read in English. A detailed teacher’s guide is available free of charge.