Implementation Plan

Students in Grade 4/5 will use a classroom blog to recommend a novel/chapter book that they have read to other students in the class.

The goals of this activity are:
1. recommendations for books from other students is a powerful way to get kids reading
2. students learn to express themselves (what do they like, dislike about a book)
3. practice using word documents
4. learn to form good questions
5. encourage writing (when answering questions)
6. introduction to a blog (with restrictions)

STANDARD C: A student should recognize that being an independent reader, listener, and viewer of material in print, non-print, and electronic formats will contribute to personal enjoyment and lifelong learning.

Benchmark 1: Read for pleasure and information
1. Shares with others the books in which they find pleasure
2. Explores a variety of genre
3. Explores a variety of reading materials

Students will choose a novel/chapter book of their reading ability and one in which they are interested in. Students will type a paragraph on word about their book (what is the book about, did you like it, why/why not, who was your favourite character and why, etc) and include a photo of the cover page.
Teacher-librarian will set up a blog through blogger and past the documents to the blog in the form of posts. Teacher will use comment moderations to control who may comment (only members of this blog, for example).
Students will read a number of posts and ask questions of their peers, as well as answer the questions about their own book (direction will be given to ensure all students have comments to respond to, as well as appropriate questions and abuse of the blog, etc).