Adolescents and Literacy: Reading in the 21st Century

Adolescents and Literacy: Reading in the 21st Century

• Michael L. Kamil Stanford University

What is Adolescent Literacy?

• Definitions of middle and high school

• Review includes 4 - 12

Questions

• What do we know about reading in middle and high school?

• How can we use what we know?

• What do we need to know?

Other Reviews of Research

• National Reading Panel

• RAND Reading Study Group

• Handbook of Reading Research, II, III

• Alvermann & Moore
• Alexander & Jetton

Unpublished Reviews

• Dole, J. & Jetton, T. (Eds.). (In Press). Adolescent Literacy Research and Practice.

• Curtis; Underwood & Pearson; Kim & Kamil

• McCardle, P. & Chahabra, V. (In Press). Voice of Evidence.

Semi-published Reviews

• Snow & Biancarosa. (2003). Carnegie Coporation

Major Findings

• Vocabulary

• Comprehension strategies

• Motivation

Major Findings (cont’d)

• Computer technology works

• Problems of ELLs are different

• Content reading is developmental

How Can We Use This Knowledge?

• Infrastructure for delivery

• Sterl Artley (1944)

Some Cautions

• Middle school / high school divide

• Motivation is critical

• Cognitive skills are essential

• Reading is developmental

• Skills are discipline dependent

What Do We Need To Know?

• We know a great deal, but . . .

• Research is still needed

• Implementations must be evaluated

• THE END