English+-+Book+Talks

=Contacts | Dates=


 * ~ Contact ||~ Comments ||~ Dates ||
 * < Detective Gomorczak ||< Barrio Book (Jamie) ||< End of November ||
 * < Donnell ||< (Nancy) ||<  ||
 * < Al Hlinak ||< Ready (Jamie) ||<  ||
 * < [|Stephen H. Jansen] (local author) ||< Steve Carr heard him speak at rotary. ||<  ||
 * < [|Mike Levins] (local author) ||< Matt Levins Dad ||< Avail. Dec. 4th / or after ||
 * < Westmont Public Library ||< Will pay for Latino author visit to school ||<  ||

=Collaboration=

Do we have any ideas on how we want to organize these book talks? Do we cover mornings with one author and then afternoons with another? Do you have any dates in mind. Please let me know how I can be of assistance.

=Format Suggestions=

I love booktalks and the power of using them to put literature in the hands of students. I think encouraging them to bring 2-3 of their favorite selections would be great.

As for a format, here are a few thoughts. PLEASE ADD...this is just to get us started. Can we put this ideas on a bookmark to send to our potential booktalkers?

Provide a 2-3 minute "hook" or summary of the book - Define genre - Tell why you chose it? - How did it make you feel - Why did you bring it today?? - Focus on a few interesting characters to describe

Some tips from http://www.albany.edu/~dj2930/aboutbt.html

"Leave the listeners wanting more" - Don't overdo the sales pitch (talk too much) "Think about what will convince people to read books" - What will pique their interest? (Hint - What piques your interest?) "Don't tell the ending" - Leave them hanging and wanting more! "Don't tell everything about a book" "No right or wrong way to do a booktalk" - Be creative! Use a variety of approaches. Play a character. First person, third person. You can invent dialogue, but just stay true to the character. In a collection of short stories, do several episodes or one whole story in the collection. The key here - be yourself. Use buzzwords - don't just be enjoyable to watch, but inspire kids to want to read the book!

Nancy Bartosz Westmont High School Assistant Principal