Adolescent and Disciplinary Literacy
Disciplinary literacy refers to the specialized ways of reading, writing, and communicating within a particular field of study. It focuses on the ways of thinking, the skills, and the tools that are used by experts in the disciplines [Shanahan, T., & Shanahan, C. (2012). What is disciplinary literacy, and why does it matter? Topics in Language Disorders, 32(1), 7–18.]. This section offers professional reading and a range of resources for grades 4-12 to support teachers in enhancing their instruction. It includes research-based strategies, practical tools, and guidance to deepen instructional practice, promote student engagement, and strengthen learning outcomes across content areas.
The Reading League Compass for Adolescent Literacy: This website provides resources to help teachers support adolescent students who struggle with reading due to multiple factors, such as gaps in foundational literacy skills, limited vocabulary, and limited exposure to complex texts. Grounded in the science of reading, these resources are designed to address adolescent literacy challenges in a comprehensive, schoolwide approach across all tiers of instruction.
Teaching Secondary Students to Write Effectively: A Practice Guide, developed by the What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), makes three research-based recommendations for teachers to help students in grades 6-12 sharpen their writing skills.
How to Explicitly Teach Appropriate Writing Strategies Using the Model-Practice-Reflect Instructional Cycle (Infographic): Strategies in this resource help strengthen reading and writing skills together, including the use of sentence starters and methods for combining ideas from multiple texts or different perspectives on the same text.
AdLit - All About Adolescent Literacy: Find multimedia resources to help you improve teaching and learning in your classrooms — including a classroom strategy library, video modules demonstrating effective practices, professional development webcasts, and more.
AdLit - All About Adolescent Literacy Families and Schools: Families are critical to students’ academic success. These articles discuss the importance of teachers and parents working together for kids.
Teaching Academic Content and Literacy to ELs in Elementary and Middle School: This guide highlights language and literacy skills and offers four recommendations to help English learners succeed in listening, reading, writing, and speaking in English for academic purposes.
Turning the Page to Secondary Literacy: This resource presents evidence-based practices to help schools identify gaps and implement interventions for secondary readers, along with explanations of their effectiveness. The practices focus on the following areas.
- Guiding Literacy Interventions Through Tiered Assessment
- Repeated Reading: Building Oral Reading Fluency in Secondary Readers
- Developing Multisyllabic Word Reading Skills in Adolescent Readers
- Strengthening Timely Interventions Through Goal Setting and Progress Monitoring
- Enhancing Educator Capacity to Implement Evidence-Based Reading Interventions for Secondary Readers
Reading & Writing in the Disciplines: Designed for teachers and literacy coaches, this course offers an overview of disciplinary literacy, key concepts for proficient reading and writing, and instructional practices that support literacy development as outlined by the Common Core and NGSS.
National Endowment for the Arts: Poetry Out Loud: Poetry Out Loud® lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.5 million high school students have participated in this dynamic poetry recitation competition. Poetry Out Loud can help students improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and grow their appreciation for poetry.
Multisyllable Word Reading Routine for Science Classes: This document outlines a routine teachers can use to teach multisyllable words, including how to identify and count syllables, sound out words, and check for understanding.
Multisyllable Word Reading Routine for Social Studies Classes: The document outlines a routine teachers can use to teach multisyllable words, including strategies for identifying and counting syllables, sounding out words, and checking for understanding.
Middle School Matters: Designed for the middle grades, this resource offers a variety of toolkits to provide high-quality instructional support.
Resources for Improving Low Literacy Levels in Adolescents: Special education and general education teachers are encouraged to explore these materials and resources, organized by resource hub. While not exhaustive, they offer valuable support for improving literacy outcomes for adolescent students with and without disabilities.