Why it matters
Adolescents face declining interest in reading, which directly impacts academic achievement and long-term success. Motivation is not a luxury—it’s a driver of literacy. Research shows that students read more—and read better—when they are motivated and engaged. This is especially critical for students with or at risk for disabilities, English Learners, and typically achieving students alike.
What works: Key takeaways for decision-makers
- Integrate motivation with literacy instruction. Most effective interventions combine cognitive strategies (like predicting and questioning) with motivational supports (like student choice, goal-setting, and relevance). These integrated approaches boost comprehension, engagement, and self-efficacy across diverse populations.
- Support diverse learners through tiered interventions
- Tier 1 (general instruction): Programs like CORI benefit typically achieving students and ELs.
- Tier 2 (targeted support): Effective when including motivational components (e.g., goal setting, collaborative learning).
- Tier 3 (intensive and individualized): Show the strongest gains in motivation and literacy outcomes—especially for students with disabilities.
- Address foundational skills, too. Don’t stop at comprehension. Even in adolescence, instruction in multi-syllabic decoding and oral reading fluency can significantly improve reading performance—especially for struggling readers.
Policy and practice recommendations
- Prioritize multi-component curricula. Select programs that pair reading strategies with motivational tools like autonomy, effort-based feedback, and cultural relevance.
- Invest in professional learning. Educators must understand how motivation works and how to apply it alongside literacy strategies.
- Promote collaboration. Structures like book clubs and peer projects enhance both motivation and comprehension.
- Ensure equity for English learners. Fund and expand research to better understand what works for ELs in the context of motivation and engagement.
What needs more attention?
- English learners: Only one study specifically focused on ELs—this is a research and equity gap.
- Long-term impacts: Few studies tracked outcomes beyond the intervention period.
- Instructional dosage: Future work should clarify how duration and frequency of support affect results.
The bottom line
Adolescent literacy success is not just about what we teach—but how we motivate. Embedding motivation into instruction is essential to improving reading skills and keeping adolescents engaged in learning.
The information provided in this summary is based on findings from Instructional Interventions or Practices to Support Adolescent Motivation and Engagement in Literacy Learning: A Systematic Review.