The teacher's book also contains suggestions for pre-reading and post-reading activities and assessments, as well as scripted questions to ask students at specific points in a story.
The Scott Foresman Company published what is perhaps the most famous basal series, whose stories starred two children named Dick and Jane.
This philosophy came under attack in the late 1950s, largely due to Rudolf Flesch's book Why Johnny Can't Read.
This was a scathing condemnation of the "look say" method, and advocated a return to programs that stressed teaching phonics to beginning readers.
The 1990s and early years of the 21st century have seen a renewed interest in skills acquisition which has sparked a resurgence in basal dominance.