Brief Description: The goal is of this unit is to promote the social interactive nature of reading through the creation and presentation of booktalks. If we want students to become lifelong readers, we need to help them to develop the habits of adult readers in the real world. Though perhaps not in a traditional format of a booktalk, adult readers often recommend and talk about the books that they are reading with their friends. Librarians use booktalks to create interest in books and motivate students; the rationale for this lesson is that booktalks by peers may prove even more motivating. Creating their own booktalks will invite students into the world of books, writers and ideas, with the goal of building thoughtful readers who are intrinsically motivated to read widely and share their reading with the others. In this lesson, students will learn what a booktalk is, become familiar with the elements of booktalks, learn tips and some do's and don't s for creating their own booktalks, write a booktalk script with partners and write a booktalk script independently. This lesson will concentrate on thinking creatively about our book in order to present the book a tool to share books we love.
Instructional Goals:
• Students will write scripts for booktalks for books that have been read together with the class and share them with small groups.
• Students will be able to work with partners to communicate their ideas.
• Students will be able to share what they have learned about booktalks
Learning Objectives:
• Student will be able to explain what a booktalk is, and able to list elements of a booktalk.
• Students will work successfully with a partner to script one booktalk.
• Students will script their own booktalks independently.
Motivational Goals:
• Generate interest in creating booktalks to share their favorite books.
• Generate interest in reading a variety of books of different genres.
• Build students’ confidence in their ability to learn and use information skills.
• Promote and maintain students’ interest in the social interactive nature of reading.
• Reinforce students’ confidence in their ability to learn and use oral presentation skills.
• Promote students’ satisfaction in their ability to express themselves creatively express themselves, design and present projects.
• Encourage students’ on-going confidence in their ability to learn and use information skills.
• Generate an interest in using digital media technology (video), computer technology and Web resources.
1. “Have you ever read a really good book and shared it with a friend?”
2. Students discuss how they shared the book.
3. Today we are going to learn a new way to share our books with others. Fortunately, we don’t have to write book reports. This is much more exciting than that.
4. Have you ever gone to the movies and seen a trailer-or a movie preview?
5. View engaging 30 second video clip on computer projector.
6. Ask student does this make them want to view the movie?
drama,
group discussion,
short videoclip
Teacher Feedback
Body:
(methods, media, materials)
1. Make the connection that just as movie trailers “get us hooked on seeing the movie, “booktalks” can “get us hooked” on reading a particular book.
2. Make the connection that adult readers (including teacher) talk about books that they love with their friends.
3. Explain booktalks as a tool that “sells a book” to us, interests us and makes us want to read a book.
4. Model a booktalk that grabs the attention of the students. Begin by showing the book cover, telling the author and title,
and using a creative approach to get the audience interested.
Elicit from students what they noticed, “What things did you notice about what I did/didn’t do?” Chart responses.
5. Use Powerpoint Presentation to highlight the talking points: What a booktalk is, do’s and don’ts and other important tips for creating them. Talk about the various approaches and the fact that you bring your own personality into it. Stress that you can be creative and dramatic, there are very different ways of presenting the same book for a booktalk.
6. At this point, introduce the task to the students. “Did you see how I modeled a booktalk? I wrote this by thinking about the book and asking myself ‘How can I sell this book to my audience?’”
Here is how I might do it, using this booktalk planning sheet to help me as I go…Model, thinking aloud how I might do this.
(Use Smart board or computer projector.)
Now it’s your turn. Try writing a script for a booktalk for one of two books we know well: Stargirl or Loser, both by Jerry Spinelli.
(*Give students a couple of ideas to get them started. Could take on a persona of the character…) Pass multiple copies of the books so students can refer to them to write their scripts. Give students time to work cooperatively, and circulate, proving guidance and support as needed.
To help focus the students, distribute copies of graphic organizer and handouts of the Power Point presentation.
Additionally we can build a quick rubric with students based on this preliminary booktalk, using rubric builder template online. Keep it very simple today for the first steps: for example, showed the book cover, told the title and author at beginning and end, had a hook to catch the reader.
Students go off to work with partners.
Props, prepared booktalk scripts,
Discussion,
Group Work
PowerPoint presentation,
Computer,
Projector,
Internet,
Teacher Feedback
Conclusion:
(methods, media, materials)
Students will share their scripts and their observations about booktalks. Provide a brief into to what the project will be.
(Coming Attractions!: You will be writing your own, presenting videotaped versions by posting them on a website, and responding to one another’s booktalks. ) We will creat a rubric together, based on the contents of Power point presentation and suggested booktalk tips.
Next Steps /Following Sessions
In ensuing lessons, they will write their own scripts and work on the Builder site to download their video clips. This will require a few days to complete. At the end of the sessions in this unit on booktalks, all students will videotape their booktalk presentations (*using a digital video camera), and post their videoclips on a webpage so other students can view them. Props, student created scripts
Drama,
Props,
Digital video camera Presentations,
Teacher Feedback
Learning Assessment Method(s):
• The SLMS and ELA teacher will work collaboratively, so students will have the assistance and observation of two teachers.
• Students will share their noticings about the teacher modeled booktalk.
• Students will share their booktalks at the end of the period, which will help students to demonstrate their level of understanding of the task.
• For today’s lesson, students will present the booktalks they created with a partner. They will complete a graphic organizer planning worksheet and provide a script for their booktalk.
• The end result of the project will be an oral presentation (booktalk) as well as a video digital clip of students doing their presentation and a posting of this into a website using Builder. This will show the students’ comprehension of the task and their ability to use Builder.
• The ability of the students to work in groups will be assessed by the teachers.
• The ability of the students to work independently will be monitored by the teachers.
