I came across this idea on Pinterest – a guided reading tool kit! What a neat idea – a place to put tools and resources that can help students during a guided reading session.
With this in your classroom you will have students begging to do guided reading with you!
I have put together some tools and resources that you may like to include in your guided reading tool kit!
Magnifying Rocks
I bought these from my local cheap shop. They are often put in the bottom of vases or bowls for household decorations. Kids love using these to magnify the words as they read them.
To stop bumpy reading you could talk about sliding the magnifying rock slowly with out stopping at each word!
Students in Disguise
Some more items bought from my local cheap shop. Students love to wear these silly detective glasses as they become reading detectives or pop on the spy masks to become a reading spy! An element of fun for the students!
Pick an area for the students to focus on. If they need to improve their fluency, talk about the glasses/masks as fluency glasses! As soon as they put them on they become fluent readers! Magic!
Reading Detective Name Tags
Engage students during guided reading groups with this set of reading detective name tags. Students will be responsible for their reading detective role during reading activities and will be encouraged to participate in group discussions.
Assign each student with one of the following reading detective roles; predictor, clarifier, questioner, summariser, visualiser, connector, word finder and chief detective. I bought some cheap lanyards from my local newsagent!
Magnifying Glass to Search for Clues!
Let your students really become reading detectives with a magnifying glass! I also bought these from my local cheap shop!
Students can go searching for words that they may not understand or search for sight words! Alternatively, students can answer comprehension questions and use their magnifying glass to find clues in the text that will help them answer the questions.
Take Notes!
All good detectives take notes! Rather then having students waste precious time looking for paper and pencils, have a collection of sticky notes in you your reading tool kit! Your students will love writing on them!
Students can use the sticky notes to write down words they don’t understand, or perhaps any questions they have about the book.
Activate Prior Knowledge Task Cards
Use this set of 12 comprehension strategy task cards to help students activate their prior knowledge before reading! These task card are generic so they can be used for any text during guided reading sessions!
Reading Detective Bookmarks
To match the reading detective name tags – these reading detective bookmarks can be used for each role as a checklist.
Assign each student with one of the following reading detective roles; predictor, clarifier, questioner, summariser, visualiser, connector, word finder and chief detective.
Reading Strategy Bookmarks
These reading strategy bookmarks are the perfect reminder of the different reading strategies students can use if they get stuck on a word!
Eye Tracker
This is a cute idea! It may be worth having a couple of these in the tool kit to help those students who sometimes get a little muddled up when reading.
It is a visual reminder to help them keep track of where they are up to as they read through the words.
Other Guided Reading Resources
teaching resource
Guided Reading Groups - Reading Strategies Checklist (Individual Profile)
A checklist to help keep track of your students' reading progress and the strategies they use.
teaching resource
Guided Reading Groups - Comprehension Checklist (Individual Profile)
A checklist to help keep track of your students' reading progress and comprehension skills.
teaching resource
Reading Detectives Worksheets
8 reading detective worksheets to use during guided reading sessions in the classroom.
teaching resource
Literature Task Cards
A set of 30 literature tasks to assist your students with examining and responding to literature.
teaching resource
Detective Themed - Book Report Template and Poster
A fun detective themed poster with 3 book report templates to use when responding to literature.
teaching resource
'I Can' Statements - Reading (Lower Primary)
A set of 35 'I can' statement cards focusing on reading for lower primary.
teaching resource
'I Can' Statements - Comprehension (Middle Primary)
A set of 16 'I can' statement cards focusing on comprehension for middle primary.
We would love to hear from you…have you got any ideas?
Leave us a comment in this blog or tag us in a photo on Instagram @teachstarter (#teachstarter).
Hi Ree, what are whisper phones?
Great ideas. I just made my own toolbox with all these elements. I am sure I will add more. Thank you
You're most welcome Kerri! We'd love to hear how it goes in your classroom. Let us know !