Meeting the Challenge of Adolescent Literacy

Practical Ideas for Literacy Leaders

Judith Irvin, Julie Meltzer, Martha Jan Mickler, Melvina Phillips, and Nancy Dean

Improving student literacy is a daunting task and it is certainly not accomplished overnight. But as we all know, students’ success both in and out of school hinges on their literacy abilities. Therefore, secondary level educators will welcome this hands-on guide to starting and sustaining a schoolwide literacy initiative aimed at overcoming critical issues in adolescent literacy and improving student achievement.

This practical text is essential for principals, literacy coaches, teacher leaders, and others who are responsible for literacy programs. Each chapter addresses one of the critical issues that middle and high school literacy leaders across the United States have said get in the way of implementing a schoolwide plan to raising students’ literacy achievement. Such issues include

Setting up effective language and literacy development for adolescents who are English-language learners

Getting widespread, active support for a schoolwide literacy improvement effort

Developing teachers as potential leaders and mentors to their colleagues

Better understanding, valuing, and building upon contributions that families and communities make to students’ literacy development

Chapters are filled with concrete suggestions for implementing a plan, including using data, supporting teachers to improve instruction, building leadership capacity, and allocating resources to improve student literacy. “For Discussion” boxes provide statements and questions to generate discussion and to help you understand teachers’ beliefs and current practices. You also will find practical protocols, strategies and guidelines, and more than 25 diagnostic tools that specifically address each issue.

© 2009 | 256 pp.
ISBN 13: 978-0-87207-689-1

Also of interest:

Leading a Successful Reading Program

Literacy Leadership