Toolbox Training Slides Toolbox Training
Navigating Your Digital Reading Dashboard
SELECT
HIGHLIGHT
ERASE
The Mission
Today, we are becoming Text Hackers.
Locate the digital toolbar.
Master the "Click and Drag" move.
Switch colors like a pro.
Active
The Select Tool
TOOL_01
How to use it:
Find the Arrow icon.
Click and hold your finger or mouse.
Drag over the words you want to "grab."
Let go when they turn Blue!
"If you can't select it, you can't hack it!"
Visual Simulation
Digital Highlighter
TOOL_02
Colors have meanings!
Key Facts
Important Words
Questions
Pro Tip: The Double-Click
In many programs, double-clicking a word will highlight the whole word instantly!
Speed Boost!
The Eraser
TOOL_03
Mistakes? Deleted.
Highlighted too much? Click the Eraser tool and then click your highlight to make it vanish!
Sometimes it looks like a trash can icon
Scavenger Hunt!
Level 1: System Check
01
Find the Select icon. Move it to the word "Hacker."
02
Turn the first sentence YELLOW.
03
Find a difficult word and highlight it PINK.
04
Use the Eraser to remove one highlight.
Go For It!
Toolbox Training Teacher Guide Toolbox Training
Lesson 1: Navigating Digital Tools
Teacher Guide Digital Text Hacking
Mission Overview
This introductory lesson builds technical fluency with digital reading toolbars. Students who struggle with fine motor skills or executive functioning often find "click-and-drag" mechanics challenging. Today, we focus on the mechanics of highlighting and erasing before we worry about the strategy.
Learning Targets
I can locate the digital toolbar on a reading platform.
I can use the "select" and "highlight" tools to mark text.
I can use the "eraser" or "undo" tool to remove marks.
Materials Needed
Student Chromebooks/Tablets
Toolbox Training Slides
Scavenger Hunt Cheat Sheet (Student Handout)
Access to the school's digital reading platform (e.g., Newsela, CommonLit, or testing portal)
Instructional Steps
1
The Hook: Hacker Mindset (5 mins)
Display Slide 1. Explain that reading on a screen is different from paper. We aren't just reading; we are hacking the text to find secrets. Ask: "Has anyone ever tried to highlight something on a computer and accidentally highlighted the whole page?" (Validates common frustrations).
2
Modeling the Tools (10 mins)
Use Slides 3-5 to introduce the Select, Highlight, and Eraser tools.
3
Scavenger Hunt (25 mins)
Students log into their devices and open a sample text. Distribute the Scavenger Hunt Cheat Sheet. Circulate and provide hand-over-hand support for students with motor challenges.
Support & Extensions
For Support:
Use "Click-to-Highlight" extensions if drag-and-drop is too difficult. Allow students to use a stylus or touch-screen if available.
For Extension:
Have students find the "Look Up" or "Dictionary" tool on the toolbar to define a word.
Toolbox Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Toolbox Scavenger Hunt
Level 1: System Check
Name:
Date:
Mission Log
Open your digital reading program. Find and use each tool below. Check them off as you complete the "hacks"!
The Grabber
Use the Select Tool to click and drag over the word Hacker.
Color Change
"Glow Mode On!"
Highlight the very first sentence of the story in YELLOW.
Vocabulary Spike
Find a word you don't know yet. Highlight it in PINK.
Evidence Wipe
Oh no! You highlighted a mistake! Use the Eraser to make one highlight disappear.
Post-Hack Debrief
Which tool was the hardest to use? Why?
System_Active // Lesson_01
Becoming a Text Hacker
Precision Highlighting Slides Precision Highlighting
Click, Drag, and Capture Exactly What You Need
Precision
Focus
Evidence
The "Yellow-Out" Trap
What it is:
Highlighting everything because you're afraid of missing something.
"If everything is yellow, nothing is important!"
Too much noise!
Just right!
Surgical Selection
1. Hunt
Read the question first. Know exactly what you are looking for.
2. Anchor
Place your cursor at the very start of the sentence.
3. Slide
Drag slowly. Stop exactly at the period. Let go!
Pro Rule: One sentence at a time!
The Sniper Challenge
Level 2: Data Extraction
Ready?
?
Find the Mission Objective:
"The robot decided to travel to Planet Zog to find rare batteries."
Can you highlight JUST the name of the planet?
Slow
Exact
Messy
Precision Mastered
No more yellow-outs. Only the facts.
Evidence Only
Undo if Messy
Precision Highlighting Worksheet Precision Sniper Log
Mission: Extract Critical Data Only
Level 02 Digital Literacy
Hacker:
Date:
The "No Yellow-Out" Rule
Your job is to highlight exactly the sentence that answers the question. If you highlight too much, you lose a point! Use the Eraser to fix mistakes.
Target Data Point
Status
1
Find and highlight the sentence that tells WHY the robot left Planet Zog.
Found
Precise
2
Highlight only the ONE WORD that describes how the robot felt.
Found
Precise
3
Highlight the sentence that contains the EVIDENCE for why the engine broke.
Found
Precise
4
Boss Level:
Highlight the FIRST and LAST words of the whole story.
Found
Precise
Hacker Precision Score
Mission Accomplished
Marginalia Masterclass Slides Marginalia Masterclass
Using Digital Comments to "Talk" to the Text
Type it
Store it
Understand it
Paper vs. Digital
Old School
Writing in the margins with a pencil.
Messy handwriting
No room to write
Hacker Style
Using Digital Comment Bubbles.
Clean typed text
Unlimited space
How to Comment
1
Select
Highlight the word or sentence you want to talk about.
2
Click
Find the "Add Comment" icon near your highlight.
3
Type
Type your note and press SAVE or DONE.
"Think of it like texting the author about their story!"
What do I Actually Say?
Question
"Why did he do that?"
Connection
"This is like that movie..."
Summary
"In this part, they moved to Zog."
Vocabulary
"Unfamiliar word: 'Vast'"
Mission: Text the Author
You are the first person to read this new story. Leave 3 digital comments!
COMMENT 1
A Question
COMMENT 2
A Reaction
COMMENT 3
A Key Fact
Text the Author Worksheet Text the Author
Marginalia Mastery Log
Hacker ID
Hacking Task
Open your digital story. As you read, leave three digital comments. Write down what you typed in the bubbles below so we can keep a backup of your data!
Bubble 01: The Question
I highlighted these words in the text:
In the comment bubble, I typed this question:
Bubble 02: The Reaction
I highlighted these words in the text:
In the comment bubble, I typed my reaction (OMG! Cool! Why?):
Bubble 03: The Summary
I highlighted a whole paragraph. In the comment bubble, I summarized it:
Did you remember to click "SAVE" on your digital bubbles?
Y
N
Audio Ally Reading Slides Audio Ally Reading
Using Your Ears to Hack the Text
Listen
Pause
Mark
Text-to-Speech (TTS)
The Superpower
Digital programs can read out loud to you!
"It's like having a reading partner who never gets tired."
0.5x
1.0x
1.5x
The Audio Hacking Cycle
1. Listen
Let the robot read one paragraph while you watch the screen.
2. Pause
Stop the audio when you hear something important.
3. Mark
Highlight your evidence before moving to the next part.
System Tuning
Slow Down
Use 0.75x speed if the words are moving too fast for your eyes.
Voice Select
Choose a voice that sounds clear and friendly to you.
Pro Hack:
The Tracking Bar
Watch the digital highlighter follow the robot's voice. Point your finger at the screen to track along!
The Joke Pause
I'm going to play a recording of a joke. Your mission is to pause the audio exactly at the punchline!
Mission Ready: System 04
Audio Hacking Tracker Worksheet Audio Ally Tracker
Level 04: Multi-Modal Reading
Signal ID
Listen & Mark
Don't just listen! Use your digital tools while the robot reads. Follow the cycle: Listen → Pause → Highlight.
Step 1: System Calibration
Audio Speed Set
Voice Selected
Headphones Active
Volume Level Check
Step 2: Mission Log
Section 1
1
I paused the audio when I heard...
Highlighted Evidence
Section 2
2
I paused the audio when I heard...
Highlighted Evidence
Section 3
3
I paused the audio when I heard...
Highlighted Evidence
Audio Hacking Review
Did listening help you find the answers faster?
Yes!
A Little
Assessment Ace Slides Assessment Ace
The Final Challenge: Applying Your Hacker Skills
Highlight
Comment
Listen
Review
Challenge Rules
No Paper, No Pencil
Today, every answer must be found using digital tools only.
Evidence is Key
A correct answer with no highlight only earns half points.
Goal: Mastery
Show that you can use the computer to "hack" the test!
The "Flag & Move" Hack
Stuck on a hard question? Don't let your brain freeze!
Click the Flag or Bookmark icon.
Skip to the next question.
Come back at the end.
The "Review Screen" Hack
Review Summary
Status: Finalizing
Q1
Q2
Q3
Always Check Your Work!
The computer will show you exactly which questions you missed or flagged. Look for the Incomplete icon before you hit SUBMIT!
Final Mission
Assessment Ace Challenge
You have the tools. You have the skills. Unlock the next level!
Start Exam
Assessment Ace Simulation Worksheet secure-assessment-portal.edu/final-challenge
Assessment Ace
Cumulative Performance Task
Status Simulation Active
Hacker Name:
Date:
Complete the questions below. For each question, you must use a digital tool on your screen first. Then, record your proof here.
Skill: Audio + Highlight
1. Turn on Text-to-Speech. Listen to Paragraph 1. Highlight the sentence that tells us what the main character found in the basement.
I highlighted the evidence on my screen
Skill: Digital Commenting
2. Find Paragraph 3. Use the "Add Comment" tool. Type a summary of what happened in that part.
Write what you typed in your digital bubble here:
I saved my comment bubble online
Skill: Flagging & Precision
3. Which word in Paragraph 5 means "extremely large"? Highlight it with precision (one word only!). If you're stuck, FLAG the question and come back at the end.
Flagged
Highlighted
Mission Complete
System: Digital Text Hacking Level 1-5
Submit Log
Assessment Ace Answer Key Assessment Ace
Teacher Guide & Answer Key
Final Lesson Digital Text Hacking
The Mastery Goal
This simulation is designed to mimic the high-stakes environment of state-mandated computer-based testing. The goal is Digital Fluency: the ability to use accessibility tools as natural aids rather than distractions. Ensure students have access to a sample passage on your school's specific platform (e.g., TestNav, Cambium, or Google Docs).
Simulation Rubric
Task 01
Audio + Highlighting
Look for the student to highlight a sentence related to finding "an old dusty map," "a silver key," or "a mysterious wooden chest" (based on your chosen text).
Success Criteria: Student used TTS to listen and paused to select EXACTLY one sentence.
Task 02
Digital Commenting
The student summary should reflect the main event of the paragraph.
Success Criteria: Student saved the bubble and accurately transcribed it onto the log.
Task 03
Vocabulary Precision
Target Vocabulary: VAST, IMMENSE, or GIGANTIC.
Success Criteria: Only ONE word is highlighted. Use of the "Flag" tool shows strategic thinking.
Final Debrief
Observational Checklist
Did the student struggle with motor control during the "Select" phase?
Did the student remember to click "Save" or "Submit" on digital bubbles?
Did the student use the "Eraser" to correct accidental over-highlighting?
