One of my favorite ways of getting kids (of all ages) engaged in text is to give them toolkits at the beginning of the school year. What a difference they can make! The kit is merely a plastic zip-top bag with 1 or 2 tools to get started, such as: a couple of Wikki Stix, a word frame (see picture posted), a crayon, a few Post-It notes, a few VIP strips, a couple of paper clips, a bookmark, a glitter stick, etc. These tools are used at the teacher's direction when reading to accomplish tasks such as: marking vocabulary words for discussion, finding text clues (character traits, sequence, major battles, etc.), designating story elements, and so many other things. Add tools gradually so that students aren't distracted by them. Be sure to model their use and be clear about what you can't do with them as well. This really helps to address different learning styles, particularly of students who are more tactile and kinesthetic in their learning. Give it a try!
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