Welcome to Litsy!

I love how Kittle uses Book Talks not just to recommend books but also to create moments of genuine connection between readers and texts. It also makes me think beyond just sharing titles to using Book Talks as a way to invite students to explore why a book matters to them personally. Book Talks would be such a great space for students to express their thoughts, emotions, and questions about a book, and not just take note of a story for a class.

Book talks are so simple yet powerful and effective in a classroom. It‘s not about assigning or analyzing, it‘s just about sharing excitement for a book and letting that energy catch on. An idea I‘d love to try from Kittle‘s strategies is building in a weekly reader spotlight where students eventually lead their own short Book Talks. I think that kind of autonomy could make reading feel more personal and build a stronger classroom community.

The focus Kittle places on keeping book talks REAL is very refreshing. They don't have to be COMPLETELY academic; they could just be a way for us to share fun YA reads with the class. However, there is still an academic GOAL behind our passion-fueled recommendations. We should advertise to our students to inspire them, but make things relatable and be honest if there are serious themes or if it's more advanced. This way, everything is authentic!

I liked what Kittle said about introducing students to book talks. You model what you want for them, and then you release responsibility to them to go and do their own book talk. I think pairing this with things like TikTok and Instagram could be super fun! There is literally a whole side of TikTok called “BookTok“ that is basically mini book talks. Having students interact with one another on there and post is a cool way to be relevant.

One part I liked that Kittle mentioned when discussing Book Talks was when she suggested reading a short passage. I think this is such an important thing to do for our students. Not only does this show students what the prose of the book is like, but it also allows us to teach them how to read. What I mean by that is they can hear us use different inflection and emphasis as we speak, and they can take that into their own reading experience.

LOVE the idea of book conferencing, book talks, and daily reading/writing. Kittle provides some clarity here, sometimes introducing books via book talk that then become mentor texts/topics for writing. Other authors (thinking specifically of Ebarvia) mention free choice reading/writing that are incorporated in class time. I dream of having this option, but still I question how these daily practices can be implemented without eating needed time.

“Reading is oxygen for a student's future success. There is no giving up here. Every kid. Every year,“ (63).

I like Kittle's emphasis here (and throughout this chapter) on how we must reach every kid, not just those that are already proficient readers or that are willing to give reading a try. Reading comprehension and analysis are important for so many life skills, and we have the opportunity to teach that daily. Every kid. Every day.

“Your passion is contagious“ (Kittle 61).
As future English teachers, many of us enjoy literature, but many students have not developed a love for it yet or have been so deeply discouraged in the past that they have given up trying. My role as an English teacher is to have a passionate joy embracing my students when I talk about a book. My attitude toward a book influences theirs whether I can see it or not. We are the guiding light for our kids!

While I found the explanation of the “Book Talk“ extremely helpful in understanding how to help students develop a love for reading, I was particularly struck by the section discussing how to use it for writing. Last semester, there was a focus on Mentor Texts, and while I was able to see how they could be used on a larger scale, I was still left confused on how it would work in practice. Kittle's explanation and annotation guide eased the worry!

I read a wide range of genres, but I‘d have to pick narrative nonfiction. I do so love a well-written nonfiction account that educates me about a person, event or topic while entertaining me at the same time.

#SundayFunday
@BookmarkTavern