Login with Facebook Register | Lost Password
Skip to Content
  • National African American History Month:

    February is National African American History Month! To view websites on African American history, click here.

  • KnowledgeBases:

    MC3's KnowledgeBases are topical collections of information and resources on specific subject areas. To see available KnowledgeBases, click here.

  • Common Core State Standards: MC3 has weblinks on Common Core State Standards, including information on assessment, equity issues, funding, implementation, special populations, and state resources. Check it out here.

KnowledgeBases > The Adolescent Literacy KnowledgeBase > Element 2 > Activity 1 > Task 2: Explore Literacy in Middle and High School

Guideline:

It is important for district- and school-level educators to have an awareness of the nature of adolescent literacy development. Possessing such awareness enables middle and high school educators to develop effective instructional strategies.

Tools The Language of Literacy - Some Commonly Used Terms _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to a National Institute of Literacy glossary of commonly used terminology related to reading, literacy, and reading instruction.

References Adolescent Literacy Walk-Through for Principals _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to a Center on Instruction (COI) guide for principals. As noted at the COI website, "This guide, designed to help principals monitor and support adolescent literacy instruction in their schools more effectively, can be used at the late elementary school level, in content-area classes in middle and high school, and with intervention groups or classes."

References From State Policy to Classroom Practice: Improving Literacy Instruction for All Students _EXTERNAL_LINK

This National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) document addresses moving state-level literacy instruction policy to classroom practice.

References Improving Adolescent Literacy: Effective Classroom and Intervention Practices _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to a What Works Clearinghouse practices guide addressing adolescent literacy. The guide evaluates the strength of the research on actions teachers and literacy specialists can take to improve adolescent literacy. 

References Improving Literacy Instruction in Middle and High School: A Guide for Principals _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to a Center on Instruction (COI) guide for principals. As noted at the COI website, "this 'quick start' guide for principals of both middle and high schools identifies three goals for secondary school literacy initiatives and provides elements of instruction required to meet these goals. It then outlines the critical elements of a school-level literacy action plan." 

References Interventions for Adolescent Struggling Readers: A Meta-Analysis With Implications for Practice _EXTERNAL_LINK

This Center on Instruction document provides educators research-based guidance for intervening with struggling adolescent readers.

References NCTE Policy Research Brief: Adolescent Literacy _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to a National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) policy research brief on adolescent literacy. This document addresses "causes of concern," "common myths about adolescent literacy," "understanding adolescent literacy," and "research-based recommendations for effective adolescent literacy instruction."

References Reading at Risk _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to the National Association of State Boards of Education's (NASBE's) 2006 study group report on middle and high school literacy. The report lists concerns and outlines what states can do to address adolescent literacy. This report is particularly useful to state education agency leaders and staff members.

Presentations Interview with Adolescent Literacy Expert Don Deshler _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to Public School Insights' telephone interview with Don Deshler, a leading expert on adolescent literacy. The interview can be listened to in its entirety or on a question-specific basis. Per the website, "Deshler discusses strategies for building schools' capacity to address the very specific needs of struggling adolescent readers." 

Presentations Overview of Academic Literacy Instruction for Adolescents _EXTERNAL_LINK

This link is to an April 30, 2007, Center on Instruction (COI) Reading Strand video conference with Dr. Joseph Torgesen that provides an overview of the Center's "Adolescent Literacy Instruction for Adolescents: A Guidance Document." After clicking this link, scroll down the page to conference archives to access the video. The video's length is approximately sixty minutes.

Print Print this page

Next: Task 3: Explore Integration of Literacy and Content Area Instruction Previous: Task 1: Explore Literacy in Grades 4-5


The contents of this website were developed under a cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Education. The information presented on this website is intended for general reference purposes only, and information/linked content is not necessarily endorsed by the Mid-Continent Comprehensive Center or the U.S. Department of Education.