[NIFL-4EFF:2721] Adolescent Literacy--Who Cares?

From: MWPotts2001@aol.com
Date: Fri Mar 26 2004 - 12:21:33 EST


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Colleagues,

Note the difficulties mentioned in the article below of working with 
adolescents on literacy issues.  Compound that with teen pregnancy and parenthood, and 
grapple with hundreds of additional issues.  One program with whom I am 
working has found that themes, using EFF Common Activities and Standards, provide 
teens with what they care about.

ADOLESCENT LITERACY: GOING DEEPER fro PEN Weekly Newsblast for 3/26/04
While much of the public attention on literacy has focused on teaching
early reading, educators increasingly recognize another critical issue
that needs to be addressed: the literacy needs of adolescents. Robert
Rothman writes that the efforts underway in a number of cities to redesign
high schools ought to provide an opportunity for educators and community
members to come to grips with adolescent literacy issues. These efforts
stem from the recognition that too many children have been ill-served by
traditional high school structures and instructional practice. While most
of the large districts that are undertaking these reforms have succeeded
in implementing structural changes, they are struggling to make the
instructional changes that will improve teaching and learning. And few
have succeeded at linking schools with community resources that will
enhance their instructional capacity. As the authors in a new volume of
"Voices in Urban Education" make clear, improving adolescent literacy will
require major changes in instruction and substantial links to the
community. For schools to continue to do the same thing, or even do the
same thing a little better, will not work.
http://www.annenberginstitute.org/VUE/spring04/toc.html


All the Best,
Meta Potts
FOCUS on Literacy
Glen Allen, VA
mwpotts2001@aol.com



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