Talk the Talk

I'd give this week a thumbs up too. This week was all about talking. Across the grade levels, students worked on sharing what they know about books.

Talking about books happens all around the school and in many different ways. In the library, younger elementary students sit 'knee-to-knee' to discuss question I ask during a read aloud and then they have to decide how to take turns sharing. The Danish folk tale 'Fat Cat' was a great way to have the students interact and read by chiming in to repetitive text. They thoroughly enjoyed their knee-to-knee chats and deciding what crazy thing the cat would eat next, and some students thought it would be a dog and others the entire universe. Chatting about prediction helps support our ESL students since other students help them out.

With the older students I have the joy of sitting in on a couple of literature circles. They enjoy this time to take charge in discussions as a director or a story mapper and so on. Students are provided prompts to start with but it moves on easily to conversation. Soon the upper elementary students will begin creating their virtual reading logs: complete with bookshelves of have read, reading, wish to read, writing 5 star books and making recommendations.

Students are being encouraged to use the 5 Finger Rule to find that 'Just Right' book as well as take a
book walk through picture books to find something that's fun and great for sharing at night. Our library is resourced with numerous beautiful pictures books that have a great message. Bookmarks will be heading out next week with questions you could ask your child while sharing a book, talking the talk is important.