This is the time to think
boldly about adolescent literacy. So much of what we know
about adolescents and their learning has changed in the last
decade, and since then both the world of education and the
world at large have become very different places.
Adolescent Literacy convenes a conversation among today’s
most important educational thinkers and practitioners to
address crucial advances in research on adolescent learning,
to assess which of our current practices meets the challenges
of the twenty-first century, and to discover transformative
ideas and methods that turn the promise of education into
instructional practice.
In Adolescent Literacy renowned educators Kylene
Beers, Bob Probst, and Linda Rief lead twenty-eight of the
most important and widely read educators across the country
in a conversation about where we are in the teaching of
literacy to adolescents and how best to move forward. From
researchers to classroom teachers, from long-treasured
voices to important new members of the education community,
Adolescent Literacy includes the thoughts of central
figures in the field today.
Adolescent Literacy discusses the most provocative
issues of our time, including English language learners,
struggling readers, technology in the classroom, multimodal
literacy, compelling writing instruction, teaching in a
“flat world,” engagement, and young adult literature. Each
of its chapters builds on the previous to create a unified
story of adolescent literacy that will help all middle and
secondary teachers and administrators envision literacy
instruction in exciting new ways. In addition Adolescent
Literacy’sassessment rubrics for teachers,
administrators, and staff developers make it an ideal
resource for schoolwide and districtwide professional
development, while its accompanying study guide is perfect
for small-group discussions.
Now is indeed the time to create a powerful vision of how to
teach adolescents. The research on their learning has
reached a critical mass, modern technology has allowed them
to engage in a far wider range of literate behaviors than
ever before, and their world has become increasingly
connected, increasingly competitive, and increasingly
polarized. Read Adolescent Literacy, consider the
thoughts of leading educators, and join a conversation about
what it means to teach and learn in this dynamic new
environment. And do it soon, because the need to turn
education’s promise into classroom practice has never been
more urgent.
Table of Contents
Introduction, Kylene
Beers
1. The Measure of Our Success, Kylene Beers
2. Flying Blind, Chris Crutcher
3. Multiliterate Youth in the Time of Scientific
Reading Instruction, Donna E. Alvermann
4. The Essence of Understanding, Ellin Oliver
Keene
INTERLUDE 1: Lessons Learned The Need to Write, the
Need to Listen, Ruth Shagoury
5. Tom Sawyer, Teaching, and Talking, Robert E.
Probst
6. Of Times, Teens, and Books, Teri S. Lesesne
INTERLUDE 2: Lessons Learned Building the Textual
Lineages of African American Male Adolescents, Alfred W.
Tatum
7. Mastering the Art of Effective Vocabulary
Instruction, Janet Allen
8. English Language Learners in the Classroom
Cynthia Mata Aguilar, Danling Fu, and Carol Jago
9. One Teacher to One Student with One Powerful
Strategy, Harvey Daniels
INTERLUDE 3: Lessons Learned Reading with
Adolescents, Deborah Appleman
10. Teaching English Language Arts in a "Flat" World,
Jim Burke
11. Teaching Writing from the Inside, Tom Romano
12. Teach Writing Your Way, Donald M. Murray
13. Writing: Commonsense Matters, Linda Rief
INTERLUDE 4: Lessons Learned The Importance of
Choice, Penny Kittle
14. Unleashing Potential with Emerging Technologies,
Sara B. Kajder
15. Making It Matter Through the Power of Inquiry,
Jeffrey D. Wilhelm and Michael W. Smith
16. Building Academic Success with Underachieving
Adolescents, Yvette Jackson and Eric J. Cooper
17. Thinking Through Assessment, Devon Brenner, P.
David Pearson, and Linda Rief
18. Effective Teachers, Effective Instruction,
Richard L. Allington
INTERLUDE 5: Lessons Learned Who Is the Good
Teacher?, Leila Christenbury
19. Five Things You Need to Know About Literacy
Coaching in Middle and High Schools, Kathryn Egawa
20. The Role of Handover in Teaching for Democratic
Participation, Randy Bomer
Afterword: Nancie Atwell
References
Trade Resources
Appendix A: Templates
Appendix B: Surveys
Contributors
Acknowledgments
Index