Let Kids Write the Review

When teaching reading strategies, one of the strategies that often gets overlooked is making judgments.  However, as adults, this is the strategy we often use most.  If I’m reading a book and the plot moves too slow, or the vocabulary is terrible, I may well put down the book and never pick it up again.  However, if I am reading a book and it’s amazing and suspenseful and makes me think, I’ll not only read it quickly, but suggest it to a friend.  When I suggest it to a friend, I’ll not just say, “This was a good book, read it.”, I’ll tell them why it was a good book and what they will enjoy.  So, why not give students that same chance to explain why this book was good (or wasn’t) to a friend?  Grab these free Book Review bookmarks from my Teacher’s Notebook store and try them out with your students.  It’s a great way for kids to work on a reading strategy without even knowing they are working!  Put these into a center with a few new books, and just wait to see what they really think of those books.
   

When teaching reading strategies, one of the strategies that often gets overlooked is making judgments.  However, as adults, this is the strategy we often use most.  If I’m reading a book and the plot moves too slow, or the vocabulary is terrible, I may well put down the book and never pick it up again.  However, if I am reading a book and it’s amazing and suspenseful and makes me think, I’ll not only read it quickly, but suggest it to a friend.  When I suggest it to a friend, I’ll not just say, “This was a good book, read it.”, I’ll tell them why it was a good book and what they will enjoy.  So, why not give students that same chance to explain why this book was good (or wasn’t) to a friend?  Grab these free Book Review bookmarks from my Teacher’s Notebook store and try them out with your students.  It’s a great way for kids to work on a reading strategy without even knowing they are working!  Put these into a center with a few new books, and just wait to see what they really think of those books.
   

When teaching reading strategies, one of the strategies that often gets overlooked is making judgments.  However, as adults, this is the strategy we often use most.  If I’m reading a book and the plot moves too slow, or the vocabulary is terrible, I may well put down the book and never pick it up again.  However, if I am reading a book and it’s amazing and suspenseful and makes me think, I’ll not only read it quickly, but suggest it to a friend.  When I suggest it to a friend, I’ll not just say, “This was a good book, read it.”, I’ll tell them why it was a good book and what they will enjoy.  So, why not give students that same chance to explain why this book was good (or wasn’t) to a friend?  Grab these free Book Review bookmarks from my Teacher’s Notebook store and try them out with your students.  It’s a great way for kids to work on a reading strategy without even knowing they are working!  Put these into a center with a few new books, and just wait to see what they really think of those books.