David A. Hill Some background I’d like to start by asking you to consider four quotations: “ We learn to read by reading.” (Smith: 1985) “Reading…must be developed and can only be developed, by means of extensive and continual practice.” (Eskey: 1986) “We must…. make a clear distinction between the building up of particular skills and strategies, or of relevant knowledge, and reading itself. Both top-down and bottom-up skills can, in the long run, only be developed by extensive reading over time.