This literature review examines thirty years of research studies, then explores specifically those factors that affect contextual literacy development: gender, motivation, instructional strategies, engagement, parent involvement, and media and technology. This article, too, defines a pressing need for a literacy agenda that recognizes the developmental nature of reading and writing across all age groups and not one that is preoccupied almost totally with the literacy learning of young children.

This literature review examines thirty years of research studies, then explores specifically those factors that affect contextual literacy development: gender, motivation, instructional strategies, engagement, parent involvement, and media and technology. This article, too, defines a pressing need for a literacy agenda that recognizes the developmental nature of reading and writing across all age groups and not one that is preoccupied almost totally with the literacy learning of young children.

Principles that should guide literacy programs are discussed in detail, and include that adolescents deserve (1) access to a wide variety of reading material that they can and want to read; (2) instruction that builds both the skill and desire to read increasingly complex materials; (3) assessment that shows them their strengths as well as their needs, and that guides their teachers to design instruction that will help them grow as readers; (4) expert teachers who model and provide explicit instruction in reading comprehension and study strategies across the curriculum; (5) reading specialists who assist individual students having difficulty learning how to read; (6) teachers who are trained to understand the complexities of individual adolescent readers, respect their differences, and respond to their characteristics; and (7) homes, communities, and a nation that will support their efforts to achieve advanced levels of literacy and provide the support necessary for them to succeed.

Additionally, this study addresses key literacy factors: students at risk of failure, reading in the content areas, best practice reading and writing instruction, intervention strategies, and Concept Oriented Reading Instruction (CORI). (author/bcbrown)

This literature review on supporting literacy development for adolescents and younger children can provide valuable information for career technical educators. Career technical curriculum requires wide reading in the technical content areas Many of recommended best practices in literacy can be adapted and integrated into career technical classrooms.

This literature review on supporting literacy development for adolescents and younger children can provide valuable information for career technical educators. Career technical curriculum requires wide reading in the technical content areas Many of recommended best practices in literacy can be adapted and integrated into career technical classrooms. Contextual factors impacting literacy development can also provide insight to career technical educators when assessing reading difficulties in their students. Education and Training students could discuss key aspects of the featured literacy programs. (sec)