Printer Friendly Version (pdf, 345K)

NICHCY Connections...to Literacy

Reading with Older Children

• Adolescent literacy workshops.
  www.nifl.gov/partnershipforreading/adolescent/
  A series of workshops was held to review and summarize the critical issues relevant to adolescent literacy. Results are summarized on the Partnership for Reading's Web site, at the link above, and include Video Summary of the Second Adolescent Literacy Workshop: Practice Models for Adolescent Literacy Success.
• Need high interest / low reading level materials?
  www.accessiblebookcollection.org/default.htm
  Try the Accessible Book Collection. Here you can find age-appropriate reading materials for students reading below their grade level (often called high interest/low reading level materials). Qualified students can borrow digital copies, or e-books from the vast collection. These are great for students who are prevented from reading standard print due to visual, perceptual or physical disability such as: blindness, physical disability, visual impairment, learning disabilities and dyslexia.
• For middle schoolers and up.
  www.literacymatters.org/
  The goal of the Literacy Matters project is to improve the literacy development of middle grades and secondary school students, especially those students who are struggling to succeed. Find helpful resources for teachers, parents, and students themselves. Electronic workshops are available, too!
• When secondary students struggle.
  www.sedl.org/pubs/sedl-letter/v14n03/5.html
  The Southwest Educational Development Laboratory (SEDL) offers insight into and suggestions for addressing reading instruction with students in high school.
• 15 elements of effective adolescent literacy programs.
  www.all4ed.org/publications/ReadingNext/
  Written by five of the nation's leading researchers, "Reading Next: A Vision for Action and Research in Middle and High School Literacy," charts an immediate route to improving adolescent literacy.
• Adolescent Literacy Learning Link.
  www.med.unc.edu/ahs/clds/projects.html
  Called ALL-Link, Adolescent Literacy Learning Link is a field-initiated research and development project. Currently being field tested by adolescents with severe speech and physical disabilities across the country, ALL-Link is a comprehensive, integrated, web-delivered set of reading and writing instructional materials at the beginning levels. Spanish is coming soon, according to the Center for Literacy and Disability Studies (CLDS).
• Heard of the SIM, the Strategic Instruction Model?
  www.ku-crl.org/featured/adollit.shtml
  The University of Kansas Center for Research on Learning has developed the SIM, which is a comprehensive approach to adolescent literacy that addresses the need of students to be able to read and understand large volumes of complex reading materials as well as to be able to express themselves effectively in writing. Visit the Center (use the link above) and take a look at their available materials on the SIM---and more!

Previous  |  Next