This is one book you will want close at hand when you plan lessons and activities. Reading guru Janet Allen has taken the best researched-based theories, strategies, and techniques and compiled them into a handy, tabbed flipchart.

The "tools" are divided into three areas color-coded for easy use. The first section contains instructional strategies such as "Skimming and Scanning," "B-K-W-L-Q," and "Developing Questions for Reading: Concept Ladders." A quick flip to any of these will tell you what it is, why you should use it (and when), and how you can use it in real classrooms. Also included is a brief bibliography citing the research/origins, references, and further reading suggestions.

Section two includes strategies which will help you support and monitor comprehension. Here you will find "DR-TA," "Learning Logs," Cornell Note-Taking," and more.

The last section, titled, "Evaluate, Extend, and Transfer Content Knowledge" includes the especially helpful "Text Highlighting," as well as strategies such as GIST,  SPAWN (Special Powers, Problem Solving, Alternative Viewpoints, What If, Next), and others.

Allen has included in the appendix 18 reproducibles. Included are: an I-Chart, QAR Questioning, and Exclusion Brainstorming.

Clear and concise, Tools is an excellent resource filled with solid information that you will reach for often. Highly recommended.

Reviewed by the Education Oasis Staff