Every teacher knows that some children fail to learn to read in literature-based, meaning-centered classrooms.For these children, something is clearly missing...but what? Nadine Pedron and Susan Brown believe that the answer to this question is balance, made possible by explicit instruction in phonological awareness. In The Phonology Factor they show how teachers can help all children become proficient readers and writers by integrating critical phonological awareness skills into a language arts curriculum that focuses on rich, meaningful literary experiences. The practical, classroom-piloted strategies presented in this book are more effective than traditional phonics instruction, and include techniques that can be used with younger students who are at risk of failing to learn to read as well as with older students still struggling to achieve literacy.