Category: literacy
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Decoding the Teenage Brain: How Reading Changes in Adolescence
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.
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Structured Literacy vs. Balanced Literacy: Which Approach Best Supports Struggling Older Readers?
For older struggling readers, structured literacy can be a game-changer. By revisiting foundational skills like phonics and decoding, students can fill in gaps in their knowledge and develop the tools they need to tackle multisyllabic words and complex texts. This approach also emphasizes the importance of teaching morphology (the study…
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Unmasking Environmental Injustice: Free Text Set for Building Critical Thinkers
I’m thrilled to share a FREE Multimedia Text Set and analysis of Visual Medium resource designed specifically for middle-grade classrooms. This engaging resource delves into the critical topics of environmental justice and climate change, empowering students to become discerning consumers of information.
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Creating Change Through Critical Literacy in Education
Ultimately, what matters most to me as an educator is cultivating critical consciousness in my students and empowering them to effect meaningful change. Education is not just about acquiring knowledge and skills; it’s about fostering a deep understanding of oneself, one’s community, and the world at large. It’s about empowering…
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Parent-Teacher Collaboration: A Key Ingredient for Teen Success
Open communication and partnership between parents and teachers create a support system that empowers teens to thrive. When we work together, we gain a more complete understanding of each student’s strengths, challenges, and learning style.
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Content Connections: The Secret Weapon for Boosting Reading Comprehension and Test Scores
Content Connections is a series of high-interest, non-fiction articles paired with targeted questions and mini-lessons that focus on reading strategies, vocabulary building, and test-taking skills. From Drones to Pop Music to Athletic Training, the articles and questions cover a wide range of topics that spark curiosity and ignite a passion…
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Clarity for Learning: A Reading Interventionist’s Secret Weapon (and a Free Emoji Rubric)
Last year, I had a group of struggling readers who were convinced they were just “bad at reading.” No matter how many phonics drills or comprehension strategies I guided them through, their confidence (and scores) remained stagnant. And, of course, that impacted their motivation and effort.
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Beyond the Textbook: Creative Ways to Cultivate a Love of Reading in Teens
Reading isn’t just about acing tests or fulfilling academic requirements. It’s a gateway to new worlds, a way to develop empathy, and a powerful tool for personal growth. Teens who read regularly tend to have stronger vocabulary, writing skills, and critical thinking abilities.
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Cracking the Code of Multisyllabic Words: A Reading Intervention Approach for Older Students
Reading intervention is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Older struggling readers benefit from a multifaceted approach that addresses all areas of reading, including fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. By incorporating engaging texts, differentiated instruction, and ongoing support, we can empower these students to become confident and capable readers.
Teen Foundations: Foundational Skills for Older Students 