Tips and Tricks for Engaging Adolescents in Reading

1. Tips and Tricks for
Engaging
Adolescents in
Reading and Writing
Lauren Cornwell
Lona Trulove
Buffy Jordan

2. Reading and Achievement

3. Start Small, Then Build on reading
• Use bookmarks to set goals.
– Have students set small goals: Read 1 chapter, read 10 pages, read 3
books
• Set an example
– Let kids see you reading
• Furnish your home with a variety of reading materials
– Leave books, magazines, and newspapers around

4. • Build on your teen's interests. Look for books and
articles that feature their favorite sports teams,
rock stars, hobbies, or TV shows. Give a gift
subscription to a special interest magazine.
• View pleasure reading as a value in itself.
Almost anything your youngsters read —
including the Sunday comics — helps build
reading skills.
• Read some books written for teens. Young adult
novels can give you valuable insights into the
concerns and pressures felt by teenagers. You
may find that these books provide a neutral
ground on which to talk about sensitive subjects

5. Make reading aloud a natural part of family life. Share an
article you clipped from the paper, a poem, a letter, or a
random page from an encyclopedia — without turning it
into a lesson.
Recognize reading in every day activities.
Reading recipes, following directions to build, sew, or fix
things, looking at song lyrics etc. These are all reading
activities.
Ultimately… Encourage,
support and have fun!

6. Let’s Write
• Exchange Post-it® notes with your children. Put the notes on
pillowcases or mirrors, or in lunch boxes, books, or any surprise location.
• Help children assemble photo albums of family events and write
captions for the photos.
• Ask children to put their wishes and wants into writing and to suggest
how they may work toward or contribute to getting what they want.
• Make writing practical and useful by having children write grocery and
task lists, reminders and phone messages, instructions for caring for
pets, or directions for getting to the park..

7. Wreck this Journal! Say What???
• Writing can be fun
• Encourages journalers to
engage in "destructive" acts
• Readers are introduced to a
new way of art and journal
making, discovering novel
ways to escape the fear of
the blank page and fully
engage in the creative
process.

8. Examples:

9. On Line Magazines for adolescents
to publish their work, and read the
work of others:
Kidscribe:
http://brightinvisiblegreen.com/kidscribe/
Kidscribe is designed to give children an opportunity to share their
writing with others, in turn offering them a compelling and
thoughtful reason to write. This bilingual site contains children's
original stories, poetry, and jokes

10. Creative Kids Magazine:
http://www.ckmagazine.org/about-ck/
What is Creative Kids?
Creative Kids magazine is the only magazine by kids for kids,
ages 8–16. Everything in the magazine is written by kids just like
you (except for the editor's note).
Creative Kids was started more than 20 years ago as a
publication to support the work of kids across the world.
Today, we publish four quarterly, full-color issues each year,
including the super-sized (52-page) issue each summer. The
staff includes editors with experience in teaching and working
with talented kids, five senior contributors ages 14–18, and an
advisory board of 12 students ages 8–16.

11. Teen Ink:
http://www.teenink.com/
Teen Ink is a national teen magazine,
book series, and website devoted
entirely to teenage writing, art, photos,
and forums. For over 25 years, Teen Ink
has offered teens the opportunity to
publish their creative work and opinions
on issues that affect their lives –
everything from love and family to
school, current events, and self-esteem.
Hundreds of thousands of students,
aged 13 -19, have submitted their work
to us and we have published more than
55,000 teens since 1989.

12. Other resources
AACPS-Curriculum
and Instruction
Digital media/Learning services
Online Databases
Many student friendly databases
MSDE
Brochure for Parents

13. Navigating the MSDE Website
www.msde.com

14. This page has
many resources,
but for even more,
click on MSDE
Blackboard Learn

15. There are resources
on this page and
an explanation as
to how to navigate
the site.
Click on the
“Parent Resources”
tab on the far right
for more resources.

16. • As you scroll down
the page, there are
multiple resources
for parents and
additional links for
sites.
• MSDE updates this
site as new
information
becomes available.