Treasured Tip - Reader's Toolbox!

It is finally here!! My Reader's Toolbox!!!

 I ❤ it!

I purchased the toolbox off Amazon for $15 because I wanted the most realistic thing I could find to help my struggling readers and visual learners grasp that Readers have their own "toolbox" for comprehension.

  

 

Instead of buying it, you can just re purpose a shoe box for free :) and just print out the tools, laminate, cut them and place them in your box.

Here is a FREE toolbox and tools (in color) I found that all you need to is print, cut, laminate, and fold!

The tools' explanation are available in my store.

I explain to my kids that readers are professional just like other professions such as teachers, electricians, doctors, attorneys, etc. Just like a doctor wouldn't think about leaving their house without their coat, stethoscope, thermometer, etc., 

readers need a toolbox too!

What's in my toolbox:

 A list of the tools & Strategies!

A hammer,  2 Screwdriver, Pliers, Saw, Nuts, Bolts, Nails, and a Tape Measure. 

I also added:

Glasses, Light Bulb, Magnifying Glass, Scotch Tape, Key, Lock, Bookmark, Bookworm, Book

Check, and a Post-It.

I use the toolbox to help me teach the use of reading comprehension strategies 

both to the whole class & during guided reading.

When I work with small group I ask them to take out the tool they think 

could help them better understand what they read.

Here are examples of the strategies each tool represents:

Saw - Saw the words apart to better understand their meaning by breaking them up into prefixes, roots, and suffixes. - Vocabulary & Context Clues
Magnifying Glass - Look out for text features! Check the info. they provide you with for better understanding! - Text Feature Analysis
Lock - Unlock the purpose. What is the author's purpose & perspective? - Author's Purpose & Perspective


The following is a list of the tools & strategies that I have complied in my toolbox. To get the detailed list with specific uses for each tool (as the ones above) you can purchase it in my store.

Screw - Activating prior knowledge & Schema 

Screw,  nails, nuts & bolts - Making Connections.

Hammer - Analysis
Hammer - Making Inferences

Pliers - Evaluate 

Tape Measure - Analysis

Tape Measure - Just Right Text/Book

Glasses - visualize the scene, what do you see?

Light Bulb - Main Idea & Details

Magnifying Glass - Interpret 

Scotch Tape - Synthesize 

Key - Keys to Success

Bookmark - Fluency
Bookworm - Making predictions. 

Book - Genre

Check Mark - Self-Monitoring

Post-It - Note taking
Flashlight - Cause & Effect

Tools to that can be added & I'm currently working on:
(I just haven't figured out the strategies they can represent, but I'm open to ideas!)
scissors, glue, drill, wrench, paint, paint brush, ruler, pencil, paper, eraser, sharpener, journal, batteries, flashlight, etc.

I know it may sound silly to use this in middle school (and my kids do think I'm crazy) but because I'm excited about it they get excited about it. 

It works best with my 6th graders, struggling readers, ESE, ESOL, and visual learners.

I hope these tools make sense!!! I'm totally open to suggestions/ideas/corrections etc.

PLEASE share your thoughts with me!