Make a Book.....Talk?

Many students love sharing the reading adventures that they've embarked on. Often, we ask students to write a book review or videotape a book talk. Why not take it one step further and make your classroom library interactive using the student book recommendations?

Book covers or the books themselves can be linked to a QR code or the Aurasma app. When students hold their iPad up to a book, or a copy of the book cover, the recorded video book talk will come to life. Students can listen to the book review and determine whether that book will be their next reading adventure. You can use your current classroom library, a bulletin board or other designated space, create your own  "ReadBox" area, or dedicate a section of your classroom site to book recommendations!

Students will love to hear the recommendations from their peers. What a great way to empower students ~ rather than writing a book review solely for you or as a class requirement, they now have an authentic audience to share with. Their purpose changes and often, so will their engagement.

Check out the examples below produced by a few students in Mrs. DeVries' 3rd Grade class. Students used Chatterpix and Tellagami to share their reading adventures; However, a basic video can be used to record the book talk as well.