Hot Spots

One of my favorite reading tutoring tips I got from Laura Candler.  She used this method called Hot Spots in her Reading Workshop.  I use them a little differently as a tutor.  My reading student selects a book that we will be working on when they come for tutoring and for reading at home with their parents.  I give them a little stack of sticky notes, the "flag it" size.

Hot Spots Freebie

I explain to them how to flag a word they come to that they don't know how to read pink. I have them write the word on a flag it sticky note and press it down on the page they were reading. They then apply some of the reading methods we have gone over and try to read the word.  If they get it, they change the color of the flag to green.  If the student never figures out the word, they can leave it until they come to tutoring or ask their parents for help.

I love Hot Spots because I then take the words that they flagged and make note of them.  I start seeing patterns in words that they struggle with and make phonics or word study lessons around that.

Thanks to Laura for sharing this idea!  You can download a more in depth description of Hot Spots on her website.