Secondary Reading

Abstract

Reading skills needed at the secondary level are dramatically different from those needed in the elementary classroom. Reading is no longer taught in most secondary classes but is now a tool to demonstrate mastery of numerous content areas. However, what are the options when you cannot read and are a middle or high school student? This phenomenon is true for many secondary students with disabilities and is especially problematic for those students who will never master the use of printed material at the level needed to learn content. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to emphasize the importance of collaboration between general and special educators at the secondary level related to the use of reading and to provide strategies related to using reading material effectively at the middle and high school levels.