The Nigeria Reading and Access Research Activity (NRARA) is developing and testing a pedagogical approach to improving early grade reading skills in Hausa in Bauchi and Sokoto states. The approach includes a specific package of teacher and pupil support materials, as well as a methodology for providing training and in-school support to teachers, which will be implemented in 60 primary 2 (P2) classrooms in Sokoto and Bauchi states during the 2014-2015 school year. To inform the design and development of teaching and learning materials, as well as the teacher training, NRARA conducted classroom observations in both states to learn about current Hausa literacy instruction practices and available materials. The data gathered from these observations was used by the project team and government partners during a program design meeting held in April 2014, during which time the overarching framework for the materials and teacher training content were developed.