Adolescent literacy
Encyclopedia
Adolescence
, the period between age 12 and 20, is a time of rapid psychological and neurological development, during which children develop morally (truly understanding the consequences of their actions), cognitively (problem-solving, reasoning, remembering), and socially (responding to feelings, interacting, cooperating). All three types of development have influence—to varying degrees—on the development of literacy
skills.
In recognition of the unique psychology and neurology of adolescence, distinct from the literacy development of younger readers or adults, the International Reading Association
(IRA) has outlined seven guiding principles of literacy development for this population. According to these principles, adolescents require the following to become motivated, life-long readers:
Adolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
, the period between age 12 and 20, is a time of rapid psychological and neurological development, during which children develop morally (truly understanding the consequences of their actions), cognitively (problem-solving, reasoning, remembering), and socially (responding to feelings, interacting, cooperating). All three types of development have influence—to varying degrees—on the development of literacy
Literacy
Literacy has traditionally been described as the ability to read for knowledge, write coherently and think critically about printed material.Literacy represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from print...
skills.
In recognition of the unique psychology and neurology of adolescence, distinct from the literacy development of younger readers or adults, the International Reading Association
International Reading Association
The International Reading Association is an international professional organization that was created in 1956 to improve reading instruction, facilitate dialogue about research on reading, and encourage the habit of reading....
(IRA) has outlined seven guiding principles of literacy development for this population. According to these principles, adolescents require the following to become motivated, life-long readers:
- access to a wide variety of reading material that appeal to adolescent interests
- instruction that builds the skill and desire to read increasingly complex materials
- assessment that shows both strengths and needs
- expert teachers who model and provide explicit instruction across the curriculum
- reading specialists (for students having difficulty learning how to read)
- teachers who understand the complexities of individual adolescent readers
- homes, communities, and a nation that support the needs of adolescent learners