New IRA book spotlights adolescent literacy

 Improving student literacy is a daunting task and it is certainly not accomplished overnight. But, as we all know, students’ success both in and out of school hinges on their literacy abilities. Therefore, secondary level educators will welcome Meeting the Challenge of Adolescent Literacy: Practical Ideas for Literacy Leaders, a new book published by the International Reading Association. Written by Judith L. Irvin, Julie Meltzer, Martha Jan Mickler, Melvina Phillips, and Nancy Dean, the book is a hands-on guide to starting and sustaining a schoolwide literacy initiative aimed at overcoming critical issues in adolescent literacy and improving student achievement.

This practical text is essential for principals, literacy coaches, teacher leaders, and others who are responsible for literacy programs. Each chapter addresses one of the critical issues that middle and high school literacy leaders across the United States have said get in the way of implementing a schoolwide plan to raising students’ literacy achievement.

Chapters are filled with concrete suggestions for implementing a plan, including using data, supporting teachers to improve instruction, building leadership capacity, and allocating resources to improve student literacy. “For Discussion” boxes provide statements and questions to generate discussion and to help you understand teachers’ beliefs and current practices. Readers also will find practical protocols, strategies and guidelines, and more than 25 diagnostic tools that specifically address each issue.

Meeting the Challenge of Adolescent Literacy: Practical Ideas for Literacy Leaders is available at a cost of $22.95 for IRA members and $28.95 for nonmembers. For further information about the book, to browse the contents, or to read a sample chapter, visit the following page on the IRA website.