Talking About Books
Source: Pearson Allyn Bacon Prentice Hall
Topics: Elementary School, Nurturing a Growing Reader, Reading Comprehension
Touched by Angela's Ashes, I frequently shared passages with my wife. I also heartily recommended the book to friends and family, and, after they read it, we had many conversations about author Frank McCourt's childhood. As adults, we frequently read books that others recommend to us and, during and after reading a book, we enjoy talking about it, especially if it touched us in some way. Talking about books motivates us to read and deepens our understanding of what we have read.
Like adults, students read more when they talk about books. Students who talk about reading with family and friends read the most (Guthrie, Schafer, Wang, & Afflerbach, 1995).
Make talking about books an important part of your program. This sharing can be both formal and informal. It can take place in whole-class discussions, small groups, and between partners. Groups can be teacher led, student led, or a combination.
© 2000, Allyn & Bacon, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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