Building Content Literacy: Strategies for the Adolescent Learner

"Secondary teachers will find that this superb resource informs the teaching and learning of their students and provides many research-based strategies to enhance reading comprehension and written language in every area."
―Johneen Griffin, Director of Secondary Pupil Services
Olentangy Local Schools, Lewis Center, OH

"Sejnost and Thiese address the national literacy crisis with a practical guidebook that meets the needs of adolescent learners by focusing on the literacy skills needed for the 21st century. The strategies engage learners and create independence in content-area reading."
―Rusti Russow, Director of Teaching and Learning
Kankakee School District, IL

Increase adolescent learners′ success in all content areas!

Responding to the challenges associated with teaching middle and high school students, this resource offers specific strategies teachers may use to incorporate reading, writing, and critical thinking throughout content instruction to increase learning.

With step-by-step instructions, a wealth of examples, and numerous student reproducibles, the book presents an approach that secondary teachers can implement across all content areas. Roberta L. Sejnost and Sharon M. Thiese focus on research-based practices that increase comprehension and learning while meeting standards, including:

• Techniques that foster the acquisition and retention of specialized and technical content vocabulary
• Processes to help students better comprehend narrative and expository texts
• Approaches to help students use writing and speaking to process their new knowledge and make it their own
• Techniques for promoting the literacies needed to effectively use various media sources
• Methods for scaffolding instruction for students with special needs

Building Content Literacy is an ideal resource for delivering developmentally appropriate learning experiences and strengthening adolescent′s academic achievement in every content area.

Roberta L. Sejnost is a university professor and literacy consultant who has taught secondary-level courses in social studies, reading, and English, and college-level courses in literacy, authentic assessment, brain-based learning, multiple intelligences, and cooperative learning. A nationally recognized staff developer and certified trainer, Sejnost has presented at over 200 educational conferences across the country. In 2003, she received the Reading Educator of the Year award from the Illinois Reading Council. Sejnost received a master of education degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a doctorate of education in curriculum and Instruction from Loyola University, Chicago.

Sharon Thiese currently teaches writing at Lewis University, Romeoville, Illinois, and graduate classes for Aurora University, Aurora, Illinois. She is also certified in gifted education and a member of Illinois Association for Gifted Children. In addition, Thiese is a certified trainer in gifted education, authentic assessment, multiple intelligences, portfolios, differentiation, and reading and writing across content areas, and she has presented at numerous local and statewide workshops and conferences. Thiese received a master of arts in English from Northeastern University and a master of arts in writing from National-Louis University, Chicago. She taught English and writing at Geneva High School in Geneva, Illinois, and has been Geneva Community Unit 304’s high school educator of the year. She is also recognized in Who’s Who of American Educators.