Taking the Lead on Adolescent Literacy —
Abstract of

Chapter 1
Stage 1: Get Ready

Judith Irvin

Julie Meltzer

Nancy Dean

Martha Jan Mickler

Taking the Lead on Adolescent Literacy shows how a sustained focus on literacy can serve as a powerful lever for school improvement. Chapter 1 covers the first stage of the literacy leadership process, which centers on helping educators build an effective literacy leadership team to lead the schoolwide literacy improvement effort. The authors stress the importance of developing a common vision of a literacy-rich school, and explain the ways in which group cohesiveness, team norms, meeting agendas, and communication with the school faculty and school district play a role in the success of the improvement effort. A focus on assessment is also included, showing how to use data to validate and communicate the need for literacy improvement. The chapter closes with a look ahead at further assessment and goal definition.

Irvin, J., Meltzer, J., Dean, N., & Mickler, M. (2010). Stage 1: Get Ready. In Taking the Lead on Adolescent Literacy (pp. 37-51). Thousand Oaks, CA; Newark, DE: Corwin Press; International Reading Association.