Dr. Louisa Moats
Author, LANGUAGE! Live®
Too many adolescents enter middle and high school burdened by years of reading failure — struggling to decode words, comprehend text, and engage with academic language.
Many of these students missed foundational instruction in phonology, word recognition, and language structure, leaving them frustrated, discouraged, and far behind their peers. Yet the evidence is clear: With intensive, systematic, and age‑appropriate instruction, older students can make substantial gains.
Effective intervention goes beyond phonics alone. It integrates explicit teaching of vocabulary, syntax, background knowledge, and text comprehension — paired with scaffolded reading, meaningful writing practice, and opportunities to apply skills across compelling, content‑rich texts. Critically, this work requires time, daily instruction, skilled educators, and programs designed for adolescents’ social and cognitive needs.
For school leaders seeking proven, language‑based solutions that meet adolescents where they are and accelerate growth, Voyager Sopris Learning® offers programs — like LANGUAGE! Live — that embody these principles. It’s time to give every struggling reader the chance to thrive.
Click here to learn more about our adolescent literacy programs
