ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines challenges of reading instruction in rural communities. Historically through today, the remoteness of schools in rural farming and ranching communities have been problematic for nurturing literacy. In the seventeenth through late twentieth centuries, lack of access to books was a major issue. The advent of the Internet widened the divide between rural and suburban schools. Concerns of rural areas such as limited library access, small schools, and pockets of low-income housing are addressed. The chapter examines programs that promote and support early literacy, summer reading loss, and increased access to books by rural students during the school year and summer vacation. Examples of how small rural communities join together with service organizations and church groups are also included.
