Adolescent Literacy

Discipline: Professional Resources, Literacy

Copyright: 2007

Grade(s): 5 - 12

Delivery Method: Print

Province: National

Imprint: Heinemann

Author(s): Robert E. Probst, Linda Rief, Kylene Beers

Language(s): English

Adolescent Literacy:Turning Promise into Practice

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”
  • 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.