This article presents results of research that aimed to investigate how the proposal of didactic material of the "Read and Write Program" (Programa Ler e Escrever - PLE) was experienced by first grade elementary students and by their teacher, in a public school of Campinas, in the State of São Paulo. The PLE is a program of the State of São Paulo, comprising a set of actions aimed at improving the quality of literacy in the early years of elementary school. One of its main actions is the development and distribution of educational materials. Data collection procedures included: classroom observations, interviews with the teacher and with the students. Some supplementary features, such as a microphone, a camera and a doll-character were used during the interviews with the children. The results showed the great desire of students in learning how to read and write, because it gives them more autonomy and access to important information, since reading and writing are directly related to knowledge. Students demonstrated desire for understanding the functioning and purpose of writing. The support of the educational material can satisfactorily contribute to the acquisition of written language, but the mediation and the use that is made of this material are essential. In relation to the teaching materials, the genres that are exploited both for reading and writing, as well as the topics and the volume of written material made available should be object of reflection
basic education; teaching; learning; didactic material.