Topic: Reluctant, Alienated, Disadvantaged Readers

10-second review: Teach students labeled “reluctant,” “alienated,” “disadvantaged,” etc. to learn how to learn.

Source: LR Johannessen. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (May 2004), 638-647. A publication of the International Reading Association (IRA).

Comment: In general, students labeled “reluctant,” “alienated” and “disadvantaged” have no interest in reading or learning. The idea of teaching them how to learn means using independent study. They pick a question to which they really want the answer. They prepare a plan of action, including a variety of resources to find their answers, especially people in the real world who are involved in the topic. You’ll need to teach them how to conduct an interview, use e-mail, the Internet, but also books and magazines. They will need to plan both written and creative methods of presenting their findings. From this project and others, students should learn how to learn whatever they want or need to learn. If possible, show them how to apply this newfound knowledge of “how to learn” to the classroom. RayS.