By Elisabeth Lamoureaux, The Reading League
Adolescent literacy is complex, requiring attention to decoding, fluency, comprehension, writing, vocabulary, and engagement with challenging texts. To help educators navigate these needs, The Reading League’s Adolescent Literacy Compass page offers a wealth of research-backed strategies and resources.
This page consolidates essential tools for secondary educators, from multi-tiered systems of Support (MTSS) to targeted interventions for bilingual learners.
Below, we highlight four standout resources to get you started:
1. Adolescent Reading Intervention Guidelines (Grades 4–12)
Linda Diamond’s introduction cuts to the heart of the adolescent intervention challenge: “Too often, the solution is to read aloud and offer scaffolds, which fails to produce independent, proficient readers.” Educators and educational decision makers are not to blame; they have not been prepared to work with students who are not reading proficiently in upper elementary, middle, and high school.” The Adolescent Reading Intervention Evaluation Guidelines help teams evaluate intervention materials, identify potential red flags, and emphasize key considerations. They also offer evidence-aligned strategies for vocabulary, decoding, and writing—all critical for supporting struggling readers.
2. Adolescent Literacy Walk-Through for Principals
The Adolescent Literacy Walk-Through for Principals from the Center on Instruction is a must-have for school leaders. It provides a structured classroom observation framework. It breaks down key reading components, pairs them with research, and offers classroom examples—ideal for building administrative understanding and supporting literacy initiatives school-wide.
3. 10 Key Reading Practices for All Middle and High Schools
From The Meadows Center, this concise, research-backed guide outlines high-impact practices. It includes grade-level benchmarks, making it a quick reference for teachers shifting to more effective instructional practices.
4. Stories From the Field: Dr. Julie Burtscher Brown & Sherry Sousa
How does Structured Literacy translate to adolescent success? In the video, Dignity and Agency: Structured Literacy Interventions With Adolescent Readers, and podcast, Science of Reading for ALL Students: Intervention for Secondary Students, Dr. Julie Burtscher Brown and Superintendent Sherry Sousa showcase their successful implementation journey and offer practical takeaways for schools.
Explore the variety of tools, articles, videos, guidelines, and more on the Adolescent Literacy page—whether you’re seeking interventions, leadership tools, or inspiration, these resources can elevate your practice.
Essential Tools for Adolescent Literacy
