Building Reading Confidence in Adolescents: Key Elements That Enhance Proficiency

The authors present a research-based approach for building reading self-efficacy and focus on four concepts necessary to learners' literacy success: confidence, independence, metacognition, and stamina.

Karen F. Thomas has been a classroom instructor and administrator in both elementary and middle/high school for 15 years teaching reading and English in urban, public, private and overseas settings before her current teaching at the college level for the 15 plus years. Currently, Thomas is a Professor of Literacy Education at Western Michigan University teaching undergraduate and graduate classes where she also serves as Director of the Dorothy J. McGinnis Reading Center and Clinic and editor of Reading Horizons. She also is involved with a number of community initiatives for literacy as part of the Western Michigan University's Clinic Outreach Program as well as co-investigator for an Early Reading First 3.4 million dollar grant working with Headstart populations.