Fall 2014 Reflections Part One: Classroom Setup and Book Talks

Due to summer professional reading, EdCamps, the Scholastic Reading Summit and Twitter sharing/chats, I have incorporated many changes in my classroom, as well as enhanced former practices. So at the calendar year end, I feel the need to reflect on this school year so far. 

Classroom Set Up

My blogposts about this topic: July 24, July 30, August 27, Sept. 11

After seeing many tweets from educators who had transformed their classrooms into creative working spaces, I was inspired to do the same. First, I got rid of my cumbersome teacher desk. It opened up a good amount of space in my room to have three tables. We didn't have enough tables to seat all students, so I kept some student desks and clustered them together to form two more "tables." The desks are turned around so that they are empty and easy to move around. Students have areas around the room for their materials and there are no longer messy desks to clean! This new setup created spaces around the room for students to work, not just at the tables/desks. Our classroom library has a larger hangout space now too.

Book Talks

My blogposts about this topic: July 17, Oct.17, and Nov. 26

Going to Alice Ozma's workshop on Book Talk Clubs at the Scholastic Reading Summit this summer was motivating, as well as challenging to me. How would I make this work within the school day, during Reading Workshop? 

I announced the opportunity to students and those who were interested met with me during workshop time once a week. They were given two weeks to read their books and then students wrote drafts of their book talks. It was interesting to watch students give each other feedback. They were able to successfully identify what needed improvement in each other's writing and give advice on how to make it better. Once revisions were complete, an educator from the local television station came to teach the booktalk club how to use the film camera and edit their talks. The talks were then posted on YouTube. 

http://youtu.be/V3OPctwlYME

I am pleased with how the first round of book talks went, and now we are tweaking and changing things up for round two! Incorporating QR codes on books in our library that link to videos and audio book talks is one project in the works. 

I will share more reflections in the next post which is all about self-directed learning. I may do a third post about math and other topics as well.

First Round of Book Talks a Success

Thanks to Alice Ozma's inspiration, I incorporated a book talk club into my reading workshop.  The first round just ended and the students filmed and edited their talks using the local t.v. station's equipment. 

Four students participated this first round. The books they chose were Mrs. Dole is Out of Control by Dan Gutman; Unsinkable: the Titanic Part 1 by Gordon Korman; Travel Team by Mike Lupica; and I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic by Lauren Tarshis.

I gave the students two weeks to read a book of their choice. Then they wrote their book talks and shared them with the club members. Great advice and compliments were given and the quality of the book talks improved drastically. More drafts were written until they were happy with their talk. 

Memorizing and rehearsing was the next step. Last, filming and then editing.

Here are the finished book talks:

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=V3OPctwlYME&list=UUbiZwB1lrYbk5_XmCTHykpg%40

We were thrilled to see that Dan Gutman watched our book talks and loved the third talk about his book. :-)

A Summer Day at the Scholastic Book Summit

Independent reading, book talks and book talk clubs, parent involvement and classroom libraries. All topics discussed  at the Scholastic Book Summit in Norwood, MA yesterday. I want to share my "action items" from this learning experience.

Classroom Library

I have used Scholastic Book Clubs to build my classroom library since I started teaching in 1991. In addition, the bonus points have earned three round book displays seen below on the table. The kids love turning and looking through the selection and many try to help organize it into genres (see little signs on sections). It never lasts! :-)

At this summit, especially in Mike Weaver's session, I saw the big picture of every classroom needing a vast classroom library of at least 1,500 books of different levels, genres, etc. Yes, the school library needs money budgeted to buy new books, but so does every classroom teacher. What can I do to help promote this important philosophy? I will start a discussion with my principal and share what Mike Weaver has done at his school. Talking with our library media specialist will also be a goal.

Book Talk Clubs

Since independent reading is so important, I want students reading for fun and loving the process. I save the reading responses and strategies teaching for guided reading. Once introduced to book talks each year, some students volunteer to hold a book talk for a book they truly love. 

I enthusiastically attended the book talk club session yesterday. Led by the energetic, creative Alice Ozmo, this session was priceless. 

My take away is that I want to hold a book talk club during my reading block instead of after school. All volunteer and very exciting with filming included!

My instinct is that more kids in class will join when they see what we are doing.

Students read their independent reading books; the focus is on choice! Then they write book talks and peer edit, etc. Getting filmed is the highlight. I have a drama background and a local t.v. station willing to loan me a camera and an iMac for editing! This should generate excitement for independent reading.

Parent Involvement

Research supports parents reading aloud to their children daily from birth to college. Even when a child can read independently, the time together to read aloud and have discussions is invaluable. I will share this information with parents early in the year and share articles and books in this area. Jim Trelease is always a great reference!

Anna Lee, from Scholastic, shared four important points:

1. Encourage read aloud at home, birth to college!

2. Make sure every child has a library card and knows how to get there!

3. Just right books!

4. Believe in the power of the parent!