Sometimes a reader finishes a book and doesn't know what to read next. Or sometimes they get stuck in one genre or one author. Book talks with peers are a great way to not only share what they are reading but to also get recommendations from their peers of other books that may spark their interest. I will also have my top picks to share with students as well. 

What is a book talk?
A book talk is a short presentation about a book with the goal of convincing other people to read it. It’s not a formal book report or review. And, it’s more persuasive than expository—think sales and marketing. In a book talk, the goal is to engage the listeners and present a fun, exciting, and even suspenseful commercial for your book.

This will be a student-focused class and I will facilitate discussion among the students. I will provide information before class to assist students with preparing for the book talk. 

Why are book talks academically beneficial?
1. They get kids reading—really reading. When students do a book talk, they have to know the book and know it well. A book talk will fall flat if they haven’t read the book and can’t talk about it.
2. They get kids sharing reading with others. Reading can be contagious, and book talks are a great way to spread a love of reading throughout your class, one book at a time.
3. They teach note-taking. As students prepare for a book talk, taking notes and using those notes to summarize the story is an important skill they’ll develop.
4. They build presentation skills. The process of reading the book, thinking through how to present it, and practicing are a good rehearsal for later presentations.
5. They build listening skills. When students aren’t presenting, they’re listening. The practice of participating in book talks, listening, and asking questions refines students’ listening skills.

Students do not need a copy of their favorite book to share with us, but it is nice to have a visual to share. 

I am eager to share my book with the students and I am super excited to add their books to my "to read" list.
Every learner in my classroom is important to me, and I want each learner to feel comfortable. I want to address the needs of each student. Therefore, if you feel your student has special needs I should take into consideration please feel free to share those with me in a message.  

In this course, the emphasis will be on the plot of the story. A particular religion or a belief system is neither favored nor advanced. A variety of literature help students understand the world in which they live. As an experienced educator, I am comfortable discussing topics with courage, compassion, and clarity. Parents are welcome to listen in to class or to watch the recording, which I automatically post. However, parents/guardians/adults can not be visible on the screen at any time. I encourage students to talk to their parents about the books that are shared during our class time.