Reading instruction in Saudi Arabia is whole-class instruction and basal readers do
not provide for individual students' needs at the frustration and accelerated levels. The
basals contain as many units as the teaching weeks. No supplementary remedial or
enriching materials are provided. In this respect, Ediger (1999) indicated that needs differ
from student to student. A learner might need little or no phonics to identify unknown
words. Another might need much phonics to become a proficient reader. Based on needs,
several individual programs of instruction should be adopted: Reading recovery, basal texts
(carefully chosen), library books, Big Books and experience charts for early primary grade
pupils.