Developing Adolescent Literacy in the Online Classroom

Today’s secondary virtual teachers are tasked with designing and implementing effective literacy instructional approaches for adolescent online learners. Neglecting to consider the magnitude of possessing literacy skills needed in today’s world and not teaching literacy effectively may lead to challenges for students in school and beyond. For most educators, one’s toolbox of literacy instructional strategies center around approaches intended for the traditional brick-and-mortar classroom. But methods of reading and writing within the online classroom differ from those within the traditional school setting. Though online students are often separated by time and space, it’s entirely possible for virtual teachers to utilize literacy strategies that actively entice and encourage student learning and engagement. This text provides virtual teachers a variety of strategies for translating traditional literacy instruction and assessment into the online classroom.

Developing Adolescent Literacy in the Online Classroom: Strategies for All Content Areas is a fabulous sourcebook for novice and veteran teachers alike who are diving into the waters of teaching in online spaces. This book provides educators with new and innovative approaches that can be used to engage even the most reluctant of learners. Eisenbach and Greathouse do so by showing teachers how to help students develop authentic literacy practices across subject areas in order to deepen student content area knowledge. This book belongs on the shelf of every teacher who cares about implementing meaningful literacy practices in effective online instruction.--Hannah R. Gerber, PhD, Sam Houston State University and University of South Africa; president, International Council for Educational Media, Eisenbach and Greathouse are "spot on" in advocating for ways to cultivate community in virtual classrooms before (and while) introducing content. I know of no other book that accomplishes this charge with the same clarity and passion.--Donna Alvermann, PhD, distinguished professor, language and literacy education; endowed faculty research position, University of Georgia, As the principal of an online public virtual school, I am often challenged to find viable resources for my staff to help them battle the literacy challenges we face in the online platform. For many of our students, our virtual school setting is their last hope, and they have come to us educationally years behind. Developing Adolescent Literacy in the Online Classroom is the first book that I have come across that is geared directly towards the online and blended learning platforms. This resource is exactly what I have been hoping to find for my teachers to empower our students to be successful. This book will be a staple for our professional developments and PLC conversations. Big thanks to Eisenbach and Greathouse for paving the way for online education resources!--Stephanie Nelson, EdS, educational technology, high school assistant principal, Tennessee Virtual Academy, In Developing Adolescent Literacy in the Online Classroom, the authors have creatively reexamined a variety of teacher favorite literacy tools, methods, and strategies through the lens of online learning. As online and hybrid education continues to expand exponentially, impactful resources like this should be loaded on teacher devices and stacked on bookshelves for educators at every level!--Jeremy Wendt, professor and chair, Educational Technology, Tennessee Tech University

Brooke B. Eisenbach is associate professor of Middle and Secondary Education at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. She is a former middle school English and Young Adult Literature teacher and taught students aged twelve to nineteen within an English I virtual school course.Paula Greathouse is associate professor of Secondary English Education at Tennessee Tech University in Cookeville, TN. She is a former secondary ELA and Reading teacher and was the co-creator and teacher of the dropout prevention online English program in her former school district.