Deborah Appleman 
Adolescent Literacy and the Teaching of Reading 

Reading is interpreting; interpreting is reading, which is why it’s more crucial than ever to ensure that our students are able to make meaning as they read. But do we know how to integrate best practices in reading instruction into our classrooms? In Adolescent Literacy and the Teaching of Reading: Lessons for Teachers of Literature, Deborah Appleman dismantles the traditional divide between secondary teachers of literature and teachers of reading and offers a variety of practical ways to teach reading within the context of literature classrooms. As part of NCTE’s Principles in Practice imprint, the book draws on research-based understandings emerging from Adolescent Literacy: An NCTE Policy Research Brief, woven together with practical lessons that will enrich the reading experiences of all students. Using real-world examples from diverse secondary classrooms, Appleman helps literature teachers find answers to the questions they have about teaching reading: How can I help students negotiate the complex texts that they will encounter both in and out of the classroom? What are the best ways to engage whole classes in a variety of texts, both literary and nonliterary? What does it mean to be a struggling reader and how can I support these students? How can I inspire and motivate the male readers in my classes?

About the author

Deborah Appleman is Hollis L. Caswell Professor and chair of educational studies and director of the Summer Writing Program at Carleton College. She taught high school English for nine years before receiving her doctorate in 1986 from the University of Minnesota. At Carleton, she teaches educational psychology, methods of literacy instruction, and introduction to American studies. She regularly teaches in high schools across the country.