Adolescent Literacy

As many as one-half to three-quarters of ninth-graders in low-performing high schools embark on their freshmen year with significant reading difficulties, lacking the skills needed to comprehend complex texts assigned in their content courses. Students who face marked literacy deficits are unlikely to do well in high school, and poor reading ability is a key predictor of academic disengagement and, ultimately, dropping out. While much has been learned about literacy in the elementary grades, less is known about programmatic approaches that help struggling adolescent readers acquire the skills they need to succeed in high school. The resources in this toolkit provide links to some of the key resources that are available on the topic of adolescent literacy.

Policy Brief

Creating a Culture of Literacy: A Guide for Middle and High School Principals URL: HTTP://WWW.PRINCIPALS.ORG/S_NASSP/BIN.ASP?CID=62&DID=52747&... Format: PDF, URL Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: National Association of Secondary School Principals Abstract: This report provides recommendations for providing direct literacy instruction to help middle and secondary students develop specific strategies for different content and different types of texts. The full document is available for free download. Rating: Claims of Effectiveness: The suggestions in this report are based on a review of contemporary literature. References indicate a wide variety of research types, but the rigor of research designs are not apparent in the text of this report. Related Resources: Reading to Achieve: A Governor's Guide to Adolescent Literacy, Reading at Risk: How States Can Respond to the Crisis in Adolescent Literacy, Reading Next: A Vision for Action and Research in Middle and High School Literacy, How to read this information >

Preparing Teachers for a Changing World: What Teachers Should Learn and Be Able to Do Format: Print Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: Jossey-Bass Abstract: This book examines the core concepts and central pedagogies at the heart of teacher education programs by addressing the key foundational knowledge for teaching and discusses how to implement that knowledge in the classroom. Rating: Claims of Effectiveness: This book is based on an expert practioners' years of experience in this field. How to read this information >

The Literacy Coach: A Key to Improving Teaching and Learning in Secondary Schools URL: HTTP://WWW.ALL4ED.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/LITERACYCOACH.PDF Format: PDF, URL Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: Alliance for Education Abstract: This paper is aimed at helping to develop an understanding of what works in successful programs as well as successful strategies for training effective literacy coaches. Rating: Claims of Effectiveness: This paper claims to be based upon research. However, most of the successful programs are grounded in single-site studies. The paper does not include enough information about its research basis to judge its rigor. How to read this information >

Vocabulary Book: Learning and Instruction, The Format: Print Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: International Reading Association Abstract: This book presents a comprehensive plan for vocabulary instruction from kindergarten through high school—a plan broad enough for students with small or exceptional vocabularies, and every child in between. Rating: Claims of Effectiveness: This book is based on an expert practioner's years of experience in the field. How to read this information >

Research

A Good Teacher in Every Classroom : Preparing the Highly Qualified Teachers Our Children Deserve Format: Print Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: Jossey-Bass Abstract: This book examines core concepts and central pedagogies that should be at the heart of any teacher education program—and recommends the policy changes needed to ensure that all teachers gain access to this knowledge. This book is the result of a blue-ribbon commission sponsored by the National Academy of Education. Rating: Claims of Effectiveness: This book is based on an expert practioners' years of experience in this field. How to read this information >

A New Wave of Evidence: The Impact of School, Family, and Community Connections on Student Achievement URL: HTTP://WWW.SEDL.ORG/CONNECTIONS/RESEARCH-SYNTHESES.HTML Format: PDF, URL Focus Area: Parent involvement Provider: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory Abstract: This review of the research examines the growing evidence that family and community connections with schools make a difference in student success. It is a synthesis of 51 studies about the impact of family and community involvement on student achievement, and effective strategies to connect schools, families and community. This publication is the second in the series of annual research syntheses by SEDL's National Center for Family & Community Connections with Schools, and the fourth in the series of Evidence publications authored or co-authored by Anne T. Henderson. Rating: Evidence of Supporting Claims: Based on a review of literature, theory, practice, and some experimental and quasiexperimental research. How to read this information >

Reading Next: A Vision for Action and Research in Middle and High School Literacy URL: HTTP://WWW.ALL4ED.ORG/PUBLICATIONS/READINGNEXT/READINGNEXT.PDF Format: PDF, URL Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: Alliance for Education Abstract: The Reading Next report provides an overview of the current research on adolescent literacy and strategies for turning that research into practice. The authors outline 15 key elements of an effective literacy program that include both instructional improvements and infrastructure improvements. The full document is available for free download. Rating: Claims of Effectiveness: The suggestions in this report are based on a review of contemporary literature. References indicate a wide variety of research types, ranging from single site studies to experimental designs. How to read this information >

What Research Has to Say About Fluency Instruction. Format: Print Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: International Reading Association Abstract: Samuels, S.J., & Farstrup, A.E. (Eds.) 2006. What Research has to Say About Fluency Instruction. International Reading Association. 2006 | 240 pp. | ISBN 0-87207-587-7. How to read this information >

Tool

Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) URL: HTTP://WWW.AVIDONLINE.ORG/ Format: URL Focus Area: Post-secondary Provider: Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) Abstract: AVID was first developed at a San Diego high school and now operates under a nonprofit organization in more than 2,700 schools nationally and internationally. The AVID program helps underachieving disadvantaged and minority students succeed in high school and prepare for college. Selected students are enrolled in a special AVID class every year after they begin the program and are placed in advanced classes. It features academic and critical thinking skills development, and provides other support and motivational experiences. read more > Claims of Effectiveness: Provides information about program. How to read this information >

All the Stories We Have: Adolescents' Insights on Literacy and Learning in Secondary School. Format: Print Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: International Reading Association Abstract: This book offers strategies for learning about students both in and out of the classroom, and draws from adolescents' stories to highlight what students need from teachers. The author presents an interdisciplinary, project-based pedagogy that connects several different content areas and employs multiple teaching and learning strategies. Rating: Claims of Effectiveness: The book is based on an expert practioner's years of experience in this field. How to read this information >

Constructions of Literacy: Studies of Literacy Teaching and Learning In and Out of Secondary Schools Format: Print Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Abstract: This book explores and represents, through a series of case studies and commentaries, how and why secondary school teachers and students use literacy in formal and informal learning settings. The authors emphasize that literacy is socially, culturally, and historically constructed and recognize that there are many different perspectives on how that construction occurs. An important feature of this book is that the contributors explore and make explicit differing perspectives on literacy as a social construction. Rating: Claims of Effectiveness: This book claims to be research-based. However, most of the case studies presented by the authors are grounded in single-site studies. The book does not include enough information about its research basis to judge its rigor. How to read this information >

Knowledge to Support the Teaching of Reading: Preparing Teachers for a Changing World Format: Print Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: Jossey-Bass Abstract: Knowledge to Support the Teaching of Reading: Preparing Teachers for a Changing World. Catherine Snow (Editor), Peg Griffin (Editor), M. Susan Burns (Editor) ISBN: 0-7879-7465-X. Hardcover. Jossey-Bass, An Imprint of Wiley. October 2005 How to read this information >

Literacy Across the Curriculum: Setting and Implementing Goals for Grades Six Through 12 URL: HTTP://WWW.SREB.ORG/PROGRAMS/HSTW/PUBLICATIONS/PUBS/03V63_LITERACY%... Format: PDF, URL Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) Abstract: This guide provides concrete, research-based steps not only to raise reading and writing achievement but also to help students learn more in every class by using literacy skills. The guide focuses on five literacy goals: reading 25 books across the curriculum; writing weekly in all classes; using reading and writing strategies; writing research papers; and taking rigorous language-arts classes. Rating: Claims of Effectiveness: This guide claims to be based upon research-based steps. However, the guide does not include enough information about its research basis to judge its rigor. How to read this information >

Standards for middle and high school literacy coaches. URL: HTTP://WWW.READING.ORG/DOWNLOADS/RESOURCES/597COACHING_STANDARDS.PDF Format: PDF, URL Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: International Reading Association Abstract: This guide outlines the ideal of what a literacy coach should know and be able to do—in delivering both leadership and support in individual content areas. It is offered as a blueprint not only for literacy coaches themselves, but for policymakers, school and district administrators, and teacher educators, in the hope that it will help support and develop coaching in ways that will most benefit adolescent learners. How to read this information >

The literacy coach's handbook: a guide to research-based practice. Format: Print Focus Area: Reading and literacy Provider: Guilford Press Abstract: Walpole, S., & McKenna, M. ((2004). The literacy coach's handbook: A guide to research-based practice. New York: The Guilford Press. How to read this information >

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