Over the summer, students should read three books of their choosing. They should be books of reasonable length and challenge, but other than that, they can be whatever the student chooses: fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, how-to books, or biographies - however, they should be books, rather than magazines or newspapers. Students should use the reading log passed out in class, or they can print out a copy using the link below.
During the first weeks of school, I will schedule students to give a book talk about one of the books they read over the summer. The purpose of the book talk is to help me get to know students as readers, and also build excitement in our classroom community about reading. Oftentimes I find that students will avidly read the titles recommended by their peers much more readily than suggestions from teachers.
Students should be prepared for the book talk on their arrival back to school.
Your Summer Reading Book Talk
During the first weeks of school, I will schedule students to give a book talk about one of the books they read over the summer. The purpose of the book talk is to help me get to know students as readers, and also build excitement in our classroom community about reading. Oftentimes I find that students will avidly read the titles recommended by their peers much more readily than suggestions from teachers.
Students should be prepared for the book talk on their arrival back to school.
Your Summer Reading Book Talk
- Plan to speak for about 3-5 minutes
- Briefly summarize the plot of the book and identify the genre, but do not give away the ending. Think about what you would and would not have wanted to know before reading.
- Prepare what you are going to say about the book. You don't need to memorize, but you need to know the points you are going to make. Practice until you are comfortable with your material.
- Optional topics to focus on:
- The theme of the book
- The major conflict
- A brief description of the main characters and their relationships
- Setting and how it relates to the plot and characters
- Mention if the book reminds you of another book you have read or a movie you have seen
- Identify what you think the author would have wanted readers to take from the experience of reading the book
- Tell the audience if you recommend the book and why or why not. Remember, that just because you didn't enjoy the book, it doesn't mean that someone else won't.
- If you come across a significant or powerful passage, you may read it aloud. This should be short and leave the listener wanting more.
how_to_rock_a_book_talk_ms_2015.pdf | |
File Size: | 43 kb |
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summerreadinglog.pdf | |
File Size: | 50 kb |
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7th_grade_recommended_reads.docx | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
8th_grade_recommended_reads_2017-2018.docx | |
File Size: | 24 kb |
File Type: | docx |