Build Excitement for Reading with a Book Talk Activity Inspired by The Mitten
by Alana Pedalino
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Building a love of reading that students can keep for the rest of their lives is a challenge for all teachers. One way to help kids find their passion and excitement for books is by having them give a book talk to their fellow classmates about a book they love.
Tiffany Williams, a library media specialist who is featured in this week’s Book Talks video, suggests that students should host book talks of their own. Use the Book of the Week, The Mitten by Jan Brett, and the free printable activity below to get students to start talking—book-talking, that is!
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In addition to building a love of reading, Tiffany’s book talk activity is great for practicing:
• Oratory presentation skills
• Reading comprehension, sequencing, and story retelling
• Persuasive writing
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There’s no wrong way to do a book talk! Tiffany suggests giving students the option of recording their book talks using apps like Seesaw or Flipgrid. Ask the students to answer three questions in their videos. For example: Who was in the book? Where were they? What was one problem the characters encountered?
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This Book Is Available from Scholastic Book Clubs