A strategy that will help you with reading textbooks and all
types of test questions
First:
 You must believe in yourself (the power of positive
thinking)
 You must write the following words at the top of any
reading passage :
Toilet Paper Can Really Help
 You must learn with the letters stand for and follow
them faithfully!!!
“T” in Toilet is for Title
 Circle the title of the story/passage BEFORE you do
anything else-it’s there for a reason. Say the title to
yourself, in your head as you read it and circle it.
 If there are sub-titles, circle them
WHY?
 When you circle something, it brings it into your world
 It’s easy to read a story/article and forget to read the
title
 The title ALWAYS contains clues about the passage
“P” in Paper is for pictures
 Pictures include charts and graphs
 Look at the pictures carefully and think about what
they might have to do with the story (predict)
 Pictures, charts, and graphs contain lots of really
important information that illustrate what you’re
reading about—they’re there for a reason
 Some test questions cannot be answered without
looking at the pictures, charts, and graphs
 Often, if a test has a chart or graph in a passage, you
will be asked a question about it
“p” in Paper is for Paragraphs
 Read the first and last paragraphs BEFORE you finish
up the strategy & read the story
 Read the first sentence of each paragraph too
WHY?
 This will give you a preview of what your story is about
because almost always…
 The first paragraph tells you what you’re about to
hear/see and the last paragraph is a “review” of the story
 Hints about the main idea
So far, Toilet Paper means
 Title
 Pictures
 paragraphs – first and last
“C” is for Captions
 Captions- “blurbs”, small writing, explanations under
(or next to) pictures, charts, and graphs
 Circle the captions and then READ THEM, thinking
about what they’re saying
Why?
 Some questions can only be answered by reading the
captions
 The captions give you extra information to help you to
better own what you’re reading
“R” is for Read the Questions 1st!!
 Read only the questions, not the answers beneath
them
WHY?
 This is a proven method for better understanding in
tests, text books, etc.
 It gives you a purpose for reading: as you read,
think of the questions that you must answer
 It helps you remember “important” details
“H” is for Helping Words
 Helping Words- key words in the question that may
help you find the answer in the passage
 Learn to look for helping words; circle them
 Those words will help you with some of the
questions
 We will practice this
Toilet Paper Can Really Help
 T – Title – Circle it & any subtitles
 P p – Pictures

C
Paragraphs – first and last
captions, small writing
 R Read the questions for helping words to
UNDERLINE
 H Helping words are underlined (or circled)
Finally…
Read the passage and answer the
questions as you go!
Remember, your story or
pictures/captions have most of the
information that you need, so, go
back to them often!