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Book Talk: 

Book Talk Using the Collaboratory Forums for Student Discussions about Independent Reading Quest Academy Palatine, IL

Independent Reading: 

Independent Reading Students select books from Internet Book Club “Independent Reading List” monthly They choose from a different category each month They choose a format for writing reflectively on their monthly reading Teachers give feed back, suggestions and evaluations monthly

Independent Reading Lists: 

Independent Reading Lists

Choices for Reflection: 

Choices for Reflection Write traditional journal entries Participate in a “Book Talk” forum in the Collaboratory Create a 3D Diorama of a scene Summarize the book in a paper Write and present a Soliloquy Hold a Press Conference

How the Book Talks Work: 

How the Book Talks Work Students choose a book from the “Independent Reading List” to read together for the month Students ask a teacher to set up a “Book Talk” Students post at least five meaningful entries over the course of the month Teachers post feedback and suggestions to promote good discussions

Book Talk Forum: 

Book Talk Forum

Something Wicked This Way Comes -- Ray Bradbury: 

Something Wicked This Way Comes -- Ray Bradbury 7th grade girls formed a group They exchanged reflections, insights, and analyses on the novel Teachers gave them feedback and suggestions for interpretation and discussion

A Book Discussion: 

A Book Discussion

Lina Opens the Discussion: 

Lina Opens the Discussion Date Posted: Oct/06/2003 6:40 PM I just read the first chapter and it sounds really cool!! I think that we should all read the book by chapters, like 1-2 chapters per night, or more if they’re really short. I think that Will H. and Jim N. are different, just like Amy said. Jim seems more mysterious and curious and he seems to think things like lightning striking his house are fascinating. …

Lina Continues:: 

Lina Continues: I also think that this plays off of him being born on Halloween. Will H. does seem more caring, friendly and outgoing, i.e. when the salesman asks for the boys’ names, Will says his quickly and Jim takes his time.

Kayla Adds Her Thoughts: 

Kayla Adds Her Thoughts Date Posted: Oct/07/2003 8:45 AM I read the first three chapters and they are very cool!!! I am kinda confused about whose dad is who. . . it seems like Jim's dad should be more like Will's dad because they are both intellectuals and very interested in reading. Maybe something happened with the two dads??? I don't know, what do you people think?

Mr. Shilhanek Prompts: : 

Mr. Shilhanek Prompts: Date Posted: Oct/07/2003 8:56 AM Excellent start, girls. I love seeing the comparisons. I want you to think about something. What did you think of the lightning rod salesman? Will this character be important in the remainder of the book? Think of some of the symbolism of a lightning rod. Keep it up.

Christi Contributes:: 

Christi Contributes: Date Posted: Oct/07/2003 6:31 PM I think that even though Jim and Will are best friends, they are very different. Jim is more reckless, curious and mischievous. He didn't want to put up the lightning rod because he wanted to see what would happen. He enjoys the thrill of danger, like Tom Sawyer, even though he does not do some of the things Tom would've done because he has Will there to talk him out of it.

Christi continues:: 

Christi continues: . . . Will wanted to put the lightning rod up right away because he didn't want anything bad to happen. He is educated (he recognizes the Egyptian and Phoenician writing) even though he does not act like it sometimes. He is smart; he reads longer books and his father is a librarian. …

Christi Concludes:: 

Christi Concludes: … The lightning rod salesmen seems paranormal; he knows when a bad storm is coming and has lightening rods that, as he says, can hear, feel, know, and soft-talk to storms, and will absorb the shock from lightning better than any other kind of lightning rod. But, is he also caring? He gives a rod to Will and Jim even though they have no money to pay for it. I think that the salesman's arrival foreshadows other strange occurrences.

Kayla steps up: 

Kayla steps up Date Posted: Oct/08/2003 4:39 PM Will seems misplaced in his family, like he does not belong. His family just brushes him off and pays little attention to him. He is a loner, wanting peace and quiet. Will is afraid to talk to his dad, so he just listens to him speak. That would be awful to not be able to talk to my parents. I would probably burst because I would be holding things inside for so long.

Slide17: 

. . . I think Will's dad is ashamed of being a janitor and puts all his efforts into it so that he doesn't have to face his wife or Will. It is weird how he burns the poster about the carnival. I also sensed at the beginning of the book that he felt inferior to Jim's dad because he was not as smart or interesting to talk to. Kayla Keeps Writing

Book Talk Stats: 

Book Talk Stats This topic has 63 posts and the students were so involved that the discussion was extended for another month. There is currently a Book Talk forum and an archive for earlier book talks. There are over 45 topics in the Book Talk forums. There are over 2000 contributions from students discussing their reading . . .

Book Talk Summary: 

Book Talk Summary Book Talk have been used to discuss novels, poetry selections and films It has also been used as a follow-up discussion forum for a group that meets during lunch and recess Book Talk has given students a safe place to say what they feel about the books they read

“Writing about what we read makes us better readers.”: 

“Writing about what we read makes us better readers.” Balazs Dibuz Quest Academy