Building a Community of Readers
While a teacher's recommendation may carry some weight, most students prefer to read what their friends are reading. When our classrooms support ways for students to share responses to their reading, we are well on our way to building a community of readers. How can we make that happen? Here are some possibilities:
- Beyond the Book Report
A list of 35 ways to respond to reading. Many of the suggestions integrate technology into student presentations. Although this list is designed for middle school, many of the suggestions will work with both younger and older students.
- Book Party: Creating Festivals to Honor Works of Literature
Suggested for middle and high school students and based on Bloomsday, this complete lesson plan includes journaling, vocabulary, reading and discussion, small group work, individual work, assessment, and related standards.
- Book Talks
Students read a book of their choice and then demonstrate their understanding by creating a book talk. In the book talk, students give an overview of the book, read two passages, and give an overall critique of the book. Students will create a Photostory for the presentation.
- Book-A-Minute Classics
I have to admire a site that can condense Moby-Dick to four lines of dialogue and two stage directions! Could your students produce something similar to share with friends?
- A Character Life Box
Students collect props and clues to create a "life box" and a poem about their character. This lesson is designed to develop skills of character analysis in grades 5-8. It has potential to build a community of readers, especially if there is room to display student projects for a few days.
- Digital Booktalk
Students can create a book trailer, like a movie trailer. Click on "UB the Director" for a unit plan. Post student work on the school website to generate interest schoolwide.
- Literature Circles
This page lists several characteristics of literature circles. Be sure to scroll down to "The Twelve Ingredients of Literature Circles." A good idea for all grade levels!
- Teaching with Book Drum: a reflection
In this article a teacher explains how he used Book Drum as a post-reading project for students. Teachers may wish to apply this idea not only to Book Drum but also to WikiBooks, Google Sites, or a class wiki.
- Trading Card
Students upload a picture, add some text, save the resulting picture to their desktops, and then print a "trading card." Perhaps they could print more than one and share with friends.
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