KICK ME

Some of the strategies that Cris Tovani explains in her book, Do I Really Have to Teach Reading? include the use of highlighters and sticky notes. She uses and explains that these strategies are important to help students hold their thoughts about the text.   She does state that these tools can be disruptive and get old, that is why it is important to have many strategies and focused text to keep students attention.

Tovani suggests using a yellow highlighter to mark text that is difficult, a pink one to highlight information that is understandable and a different color to highlight the purpose of the text.  I think this is a great idea, but I also think it can a  bit time confusing and distracting to keep grabbing a different colored highlighter often. 

Another strategy that Tovani describes is the use of sticky notes. She has her students write down their thoughts, the purpose or any questions that they think of.  She does say that this method can get old and students get tired of using highlighters and sticky notes. Teachers are great at implementing other strategies to keep students interested and on task.  Tovani also states that students she has worked with will use the sticky notes to write KICK ME notes and post on someone's back.  But that gets old too and students will eventually come around to using them for the purpose of holding their thoughts while reading.  Tovani will have students write their thoughts on the sticky notes and she will grade the sticky notes, which she claims is easier than grading and taking home lots of papers.  A good thing  to remember and to keep students on track is for them to write the page number of what they are questioning or referencing on the sticky note. 

An issue with using highlighters and sticky notes is where and how to get them. She suggests having students bring them in by adding them to the supply list.  This always sounds like a good idea and fair enough for students to bring them in. Unfortunately in the real world students cant afford or they forget to bring in extra supplies.  The teacher usually ends up bringing these materials in.  But if its a great strategy then its worth it. 

Using different strategies is important to help reach a variety of students.  As expected there are challenges and difficulty with each strategy, but it is important to keep things interesting for students so that they don't go into zombie mode in class.  Highlighters and sticky notes may work for some and not others. Just try strategies until you can find one that works for you or your students.