The document discusses improving adolescent literacy through content area literacy instruction. It explains that reading, writing, speaking, listening and viewing skills are important across all subject areas. While English teachers cannot be solely responsible for literacy, specific instructional strategies can be used across content areas to help students increase their literacy abilities. Some key strategies discussed include notetaking, questioning techniques, and reading comprehension approaches like Questioning the Author. Overall literacy instruction is linked to both student achievement and teacher professional development.

1. Content Literacy Improving Adolescent Literacy Book Study LeAnn Kitson, Margaret Peters, Penny Christensen, Nelli Koster

16. Questioning the Author Prompts Did the author tell us that? Did the author give us the answer to that? Encourage students to refer to the text because they have misinterpreted, or to help them recognize that they have made an inference. Does that make sense? Is that said in a clear way? Did the author explain that clearly? Why or why not? What do we need to figure out or find out? Identify difficulties with the way the author has presented information or ideas? That’s what the author says, but what does it mean? How does that connect with what the author already told us? What information has the author added here that connects or fits with __________? Focus on author’s message Linking information What is the author trying to say? What is the author’s message? What is the author talking about? Initiate Discussion