Adolescent Literacy, Field Tested —
Abstract of

Chapter 13
Successful Teachers Share Advice for Motivating Reluctant Adolescents

Cheryl Taliaferro

Sheri R. Parris

This chapter identifies instructional routines that have proven effective in motivating reluctant adolescent readers. Award-winning secondary-grade teachers from across the United States also share their wisdom on this issue. The most effective practices identified for this chapter include selecting texts based on students' interests and needs, building relationships with students, providing choices, making texts relevant, and modeling. This chapter looks at each of these issues in depth, providing practical and specific instructional practices that teachers can implement in their own classrooms. While student motivation can be a challenge for secondary teachers, this chapter shows that it is not an insurmountable obstacle and outlines a clear path for effectively working with these students.

Taliaferro, C., & Parris, S.R. (2009). Successful Teachers Share Advice for Motivating Reluctant Adolescents. In S.R. Parris, D. Fisher, & K. Headley (Eds.), Adolescent Literacy, Field Tested (pp. 157-167). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.