As a reading interventionist for 5th and 6th graders and parent of three teens, I’ve had a front-row seat to the fascinating world of adolescent literacy development. It’s a time of tremendous growth and change, both cognitively and neurologically, and these changes directly impact how teens approach and engage with reading.

The Adolescent Brain: Under Construction

The teenage brain is a work in progress. It’s undergoing major rewiring, particularly in the prefrontal cortex, the area responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and complex thinking. While this rewiring ultimately leads to increased cognitive abilities, it can also make reading a bit more challenging for adolescents.

How Reading Changes in Adolescence

1. Increased Capacity for Abstract Thinking: Teens are developing the ability to think abstractly, analyze information, and draw inferences from text. This is a critical skill for understanding complex literature and non-fiction. However, it also means that teens may struggle with texts that require them to read between the lines or make connections to their own experiences.
2. Growing Vocabulary and Background Knowledge: Adolescents are rapidly expanding their vocabulary and acquiring knowledge about the world around them. This helps them understand a wider range of texts and make connections between different ideas. However, gaps in vocabulary and background knowledge can still hinder comprehension, especially for struggling readers.
3. Changing Interests and Motivations: Teens are exploring their identities and developing their own interests. This can influence their reading choices and engagement. Finding books that resonate with their personal experiences and passions is crucial for motivating them to read.
4. Developing Metacognitive Skills: Adolescents are becoming more aware of their own thinking processes and learning strategies. This is an opportune time to teach them explicit reading strategies like summarizing, questioning, and visualizing, which can help them become more independent and effective readers.

Supporting Adolescent Readers

As educators and parents, we can support adolescent readers by:

• Providing a variety of texts: Offer a wide range of genres, topics, and formats to cater to diverse interests and reading levels. Your public or school library is the perfect place to explore texts!
• Explicitly teaching reading strategies: Help teens develop the metacognitive skills they need to monitor their comprehension and apply appropriate strategies when they encounter challenges.
• Encouraging independent reading: Create time and space for teens to read for pleasure, both in and out of school.
• Making connections to real-world issues: Help teens see the relevance of reading to their own lives and the world around them.
• Building a positive reading culture: Foster a love of reading by celebrating reading achievements, recommending books, and creating opportunities for discussion and sharing.

Adolescence is a critical period for reading development. By understanding the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the teenage brain, teachers can provide targeted support and empower our students to become lifelong readers.