In this article, we share with readers our hopes, fears, and predictions for reading assessment in American schools at a critical policy juncture--the production of new assessments to measure achievement of the Common Core State Standards. It isn't just Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers and Smarter Balanced…

Adolescents who struggle with reading most often encounter problems with comprehension, rather than the ability to read words. Comprehension is a dynamic process that requires the reader to use multiple strategies as meaning is constructed. To improve the reading comprehension of their students, teachers must be knowledgeable about what…

As reading professionals and former middle school teachers, we believe it is essential for teachers to select books thoughtfully, understand the relationship between book selection and student motivation and engagement, and realize the importance of classroom instruction during the reading of literature. Teachers strive to help middle school…

As the body of high quality young adult literature (YAL) continues to grow, what role might these texts play in professional development for educators? This article describes ways in which schools can develop book study programs that use this literature to promote meaningful dialogue and understanding of contemporary adolescent issues. Based on…

Literacy researchers operating from poststructuralist theoretical perspectives have too often talked past and against issues of concern to teachers and policy-makers (such as reading comprehension) rather than addressing them in productive ways. In response to this concern, the author uses poststructuralist sensibilities to critique and build on…

Preparing teachers to understand their students' reading processes so that they can guide their students toward connecting with texts in meaningful and personal ways are goals that can be met through the study of young adult literature. Twenty-first century learners live in an increasingly interconnected world and have access to countless texts…

Adolescence is chaotic for all individuals, but LGBTQ adolescents with intellectual and/or physical disabilities struggle with what it means to be furthest from the majority. These teens experience varying exclusions and harassments from peers, educators, and family members. Contemporary young adult literature can assist these adolescents through…

The authors draw from the research literature and from their work with the Scientific Literacy Project (SLP) in kindergarten classrooms to address the inclusion of science picture books in the curriculum. They describe features and functions of informational texts, discuss teachers' common concerns about providing young children with experiences…

The study of young adult literature (YAL) as both an art form and teaching tool is in its infancy. Barely 50 years old, this emerging genre began to establish a presence in the canon of both classical and popular literature. As a developing field of inquiry, however, YAL struggles for legitimacy and prestige. The purpose of this article is to…

Written primarily for other English teacher educators, this article explores one university professor's attempt to reflect on, review, and revise the content, pedagogy, and assessments utilized to teach a graduate course in adolescent literature to preservice and in-service teachers. The new and improved course is designed to simultaneously build…

Young adult literature (YAL) is one of the most engaging and effective tools to promote the goal of lifelong literacy for middle and high school students. This article addresses the stakes of exploring--or failing to explore--common perceptions and misperceptions of YAL. Readers' lives as family members, consumers, and students play roles in their…

The purpose of this article is to depict reading as a dimension of language and present the implications of this relationship for teaching, and to explore the functions reading serves in promoting both conceptual and personal growth. (RC)

This article discusses the desirability of advancing problem readers to the meaning-extraction stage of true reading by reading animated captions added to material such as cartoons, pantomime, and silent movies. (RC)