1. CPDD Literacy Services 10/08
Viewing Guide for Toughie Charts
The purpose of viewing this video is to learn about an effective strategy for assisting your students
with difficult concepts during literacy instruction.
Before Viewing
 Reflect on the ways in which the students in your classroom receive additional guided
practice on difficult concepts.
During Viewing
 Observe and record examples of the teacher’s use of a systematic and explicit routine while
guiding participants through the content of the Toughie Chart.
 Watch for the use of hand signals.
After Viewing
 Answer the following questions:
 How was the content of the Toughie Chart determined?
 How did the instructor provide corrective feedback for his students?
 How can you determine whether the use of a Toughie Chart would be utilized during
whole-group or small-group instruction?

2. CPDD Literacy Services 10/08
How Can We Create an Effective Toughie Chart for Our Students?
A Toughie Chart is a tool you can use to help students practice skills they have had difficulty acquiring
during initial instruction. A Toughie chart begins as guided practice, facilitated by the teacher. After the
students have had multiple opportunities for perfect practice, it is time to allow students to practice the
chart independently. This can be done as a center.
Toughie charts can be utilized during whole group and/or small group instruction.
The steps to building an effective Toughie Chart are:
1) During whole group instruction, the teacher observes which skills and/or strategies may be
difficult for some or most students to learn. The teacher makes careful notes about his/her
observations in the Teacher’s Edition or in a designated area of the classroom. For example,
the corner of a dry erase board can be utilized as a Needs Practice area.
2) The teacher organizes his/her notes from the Needs Practice list and transfers the information
to large chart paper. The teacher then uses a systematic and explicit routine with each line of
the Toughie Chart. Remember our goal here is perfect practice, so the teacher should actively
monitor student responses. Any incorrect answers that are heard from students need to be
addressed with corrective feedback, immediately. (Left Picture: Sample of primary toughie
chart; Right Picture: Sample of intermediate toughie chart)
3) After the teacher feels that all of the students have mastered the skills and/or strategies on the
Toughie Chart, the chart can be moved into a literacy center. This provides students with
additional daily practice.