Tips and Tricks for Engaging Adolescents in Reading and WritingLauren CornwellLona TruloveBuffy Jordan

Reading and Achievement

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

• 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

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!

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..

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.

Examples:

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

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.

What is Creative Kids?

Creative Kids Magazine:

http://www.ckmagazine.org/about-ck/

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.

AACPS- Curriculum and Instruction Digital media/Learning services Online Databases Many student friendly databases

MSDE

Brochure for Parents

Other resources

Navigating the MSDE Websitewww.msde.com

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

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.

• 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.