5 Ways to Use Book Talk Guides in The Classroom
HOW BOOK-TALKING CHANGED MY CAREER
It’s no secret by now that book-talking changed my career. At one point, when I was teaching a curriculum that I didn’t believe in, it saved me as an educator. If it weren’t for book-talking, I’m not sure I’d still be in the classroom. And while that may seem extreme, I genuinely derive the most joy, satisfaction, and meaning from my job when I am sharing incredible stories with my students.
Even now, teaching curriculums I love, book-talks have the most special place in my heart because they turn reluctant or apathetic readers into engaged and eager book-lovers. They fuel the fire of students who already love reading but need a healthy diet of quality titles to sustain their passion. I know that book-talking has a life-long impact on my students.
MAKING BOOK-TALKING SUSTAINABLE
The reality is, though, that among curricular demands and the one million other things that vie for our attention in the classroom, book-talking is easy to push aside, particularly when we don’t feel prepared or confident in our ability to book talk. My book talk guides are truly a life-saver because while I do read all the books I book-talk, there are many titles I haven’t touched in almost a decade, and I forget character names or plot details more quickly than I’d like to admit. When I began creating my book talk guides, I thought they would be a simple reference I could use in a pinch, but honestly, they have become a one-stop-shop for all my book-related needs, and I know they will do the same for you.
FIVE WAYS TO USE BOOK TALK GUIDES IN YOUR CLASSROOM:
1. LAMINATE THEM FOR STUDENT REFERENCE
Sometimes students ask me for book recommendations, but I’m a little too short on time to give them a deep dive on the titles I love. Fortunately, the top half of each book talk guide gives the perfect amount of information for students to decide if they’d like the novel or not. I leave this little laminated flip chart on my shelves so students can take charge of finding their next favorite book!
2. KEEP THEM IN A BINDER FOR YOUR REFERENCE
Sliding these guides into page protectors and keeping them in a Book Talk Guide Binder is the BEST way to be prepared for any Book Talk Tuesday, whether you planned ahead for it or not. Zero prep is required to give a thorough and highly engaging book talk when you have these guides handy.
3. USE THEM TO DISCUSS TEXTS WITH PARENTS
Every year at conferences, parents ask me to help them recommend titles to their children, and sometimes, on the spot, it can be tricky to name titles that would be well-suited for that particular student. It can also feel risky to recommend titles that you either aren’t totally familiar with, or don’t really remember. This is where book talk guides come in. At a glance, you can find a book’s genre, plot overview, reading level, and information about mature moments so you can feel confident about the titles you share with families. Simply keep your binder handy, and use the book talk guides to jog your memory about quality titles.
4. CREATE LITERATURE CIRCLE PLANS WITH THEM
Because many of my guides are grouped by theme or genre, they serve as the perfect tool to select titles for a cohesive, yet diverse literature circle unit. Additionally, the Volume II edition of my book talk guides includes a second page with topics, themes, and discussion questions for each novel. This information can be used to inspire essential questions, create assignments, and drive lit circle conversations among students.
5. USE THEM TO RECOMMEND TITLES TO STUDENTS ONE-ON-ONE
After book-talking, there is nothing I love more than being a kick-butt book matchmaker in my classroom. Recommending titles to individual students and knocking the recommendation out of the park is just so satisfying. Book talk guides can help you do this with ease every time, not only because each guide provides ample insight into what each title is about, but also because Volume II book talk guides contain a list of titles to recommend to students next. For example, if a student enjoys the novel, Bruiser, by Neal Shusterman, the book talk guide suggests recommending titles like Cinder, Divergent, and Fangirl next. Subscribe to get the book talk FREE!
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