Chapter 6 Response

Booktalks are definitely an activity I'm excited to implement in my classroom...what a great method to instilling a passion for reading in our students. I love the fact that Atwell gave distinct categories of booktalks: new titles I loved, new titles I haven't read yet, a worthy author, a worthy series, oldies but goodies, titles related by topic or theme, top picks for the weekend, and fast reads. As Atwell states, "By briefing kids about the great stories that are still waiting for them, booktalks help students select, reject, develop criteria, look forward to the next title, and become the kinds of readers who can determine the course of a literary lifetime" (73). Booktalks are an excellent tool to supplement S.S.R./The Reading Zone.