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1. What does research say about the topic? GJ: Research has shifted through the years from being skills based to the cognitive and metacognitive processes. It seems whatever they want research to say, they can find a test subject that validates it. But, teachers can help students in content areas by using explicit instruction in teaching reading skills and strategies. JZ: Content area reading is a matter of good teaching! Teachers must reflect on the strategies needed by their students so they can be successful in academics. JD: Research says that readers learn with text not from text. They can begin to internalizing content text and read for meaning. When this occurs comprehension blossoms. 2. Why is adolescent literacy more critical than ever? GJ: More jobs require reading and writing skills than ever before. People have to have literacy skills in order to use technology that is required in our personal lives, jobs, and homes. JZ: I totally agree with GJ. The times they are a changin' and we better prepare our students for the global world! JD: There are more and more standards set that are requiring adolescents acquire mastery. These concepts are being assessed at a state and federal level.

3. Content area reading starts any time teacher reads expository text to a classroom. How can you improve your content area instruction in your class? GJ: By implementing reading strategies that are necessary to help students understand the text. Not assuming students already know how to use reading strategies,but teaching them the strategies and how to use them. Making strategies a part of content area instruction. JZ: YES! Strategies are instrumental! One example is the KWL chart. JD: I need to implement for expository text into the classroom. Children are wanting to learn from information that is real and makes sense to them.

Your questions GJ: The $64,000 question. How do you get content area teachers to use reading strategies in their class? JZ:Why is that only the $64,000 question?! Seriously-I would like to know what YOU would say to the question" What should an ideal literacy program look like in junior high?" JD: When does reading readiness development begin, would be sometime when it is just too early to teach our students who are just entering the emergent stage ?