Adolescent Literacy Toolkit

Established by the Kentucky legislature in 1998, CCLD serves as a clearinghouse for literacy research and professional development. In fulfilling its mission to improve literacy instruction and learning, CCLD is working toward a mass dissemination of materials to middle and high school educators across the state. The Adolescent Literacy Toolkit is made possible through funding from the Adolescent Literacy Coaching Project, a joint initiative by CCLD and the Kentucky Department of Education. The Toolkit is part of our effort to make current research and materials available to the education community.

The Toolkit has been mailed to middle, high, and alternative schools (grades 6-12). The entire Toolkit contents, excluding the book Informed Choices for Struggling Adolescent Readers, are being made available online for all educators to access.

A variety of key resources are included in this Toolkit, designed to assist districts and schools in implementing a coordinated, systemic approach to improved literacy achievement. The Performance Effectiveness Review for Kentucky Schools (PERKS) and Quality Indicators for Secondary Literacy can assist in assessing your school's literacy needs. Reading Next and Writing Next provide frameworks for comprehensive literacy instruction. The DVD "Literacy Without Limits" and lesson plans provide specific strategies for refining literacy instruction and practice across the content areas. These resources intentionally support literacy instruction for the majority of adolescent learners.

Kentucky data, however, indicate a large majority of students in need of additional, more intensive support. CCLD recognizes the complexity of selecting and implementing the most appropriate interventions for adolescent learners. Within the toolkit, we have provided one of the International Reading Association's premier text, Informed Choices, to support your decision-making process.

CCLD believes this toolkit will prompt dialogue, support professional development, and transform literacy teaching and learning. CCLD will make available webinar professional development opportunities based on the materials and resources in this toolkit. We hope your school participates in these future opportunities.

Toolkit Contents

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The following sections and indicvidual components are listed as they are on the "Table of Contents" for accessibility.

STAFF DEVELOPMENT LESSONS

POSITION STATEMENTS

INTERVENTIONS AND INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN

LINKING RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

IMPROVING CLASSROOM PRACTICE

SCHOOL WIDE RESOURCES

21ST CENTURY SKILLS

RESOURCES FOR PRINCIPALS