Brief Description

Teaching reading is not always an easy task, but kids can get into it with the help of a computer!  This lesson gives kids a chance to go online to review different books and authors, read choice books, and then do an online book review that is also emailed to the teacher.

Standards and Frameworks

Technology Standards

• 4T-E1. Use telecommunications efficiently and effectively to access remote information and communicate with others in support of facilitated and independent learning
• 4T-E2. Use technology tools for individual and collaborative writing communication and publishing activities to create curricular related products for audiences inside and outside the classroom.

• R-E2. Use reading strategies such as making inferences and predictions, summarizing, paraphrasing, differentiating fact from opinion, and determining the author’s purpose and perspective to comprehend written selections
• R-E3. Analyze selections of fiction, non-fiction and poetry by identifying the plot line (I.E., beginning, conflict, rising action, climax, and falling action.); distinguishing the main characters from minor ones, describing the relationship between and motivations of characters; making inferences about the events, setting, style, tone, mood, and meaning of the selection
• R-E4. Identify the author’s purpose, position, bias and strategies in a persuasive selection

Academic

• Students will read reviews on the Internet and then choose a book to read.
• Students will create their own reviews for the Internet.  These will evaluate selected novels they have read and make connections while interpreting the textbook.

• Students will demonstrate the ability to search the Internet for information regarding novels that they are reading.
• Students will setup, create and propose book reviews for a site on the web.

• Students should have a background in searching the Internet.  They should also be able to type in fields.

• Internet ready computers
• A choice novel that has already been read
• Access to library
• Register your class at http://www.bookhooks.com
• Permission to publish student work on the Internet

• Students who have learning disabilities will need to be paired for the editing of their reviews. Break down the tasks for them into smaller steps.  Have them share their work with a buddy. Give them a starter review that prompts them on what should be said.  Offer extended time so that they can finish.  Use suggestions from their IEP.
• Students who are gifted could be required to write a review on a higher-level novel.  Use the spell check and challenge them to write above grade level reviews (you do this by clicking on the options tab in the Tools bar at the top, then click on spelling and grammar and check the box that says readability).
• Attention Deficit students will need this broken down into steps so that they can understand what to do first without feeling overwhelmed by it all!
• Students with limited English can be paired with others or can write reviews in their home language.

1. Be sure to register your class at http://www.bookhooks.com Look at the review for Running Out of Time by Bonnie in Tucson, Arizona. (This is a great example! It is teacher created.)

2. Get permission for each of your students to publish information on the Internet.

a. http://www.amphi.com/~technology/612.htm Our district uses this form.

4. Assuming that you have already read a class novel, use that novel to create a Book Hooks review.  This will model the process for students so that they will be more comfortable doing a book review on their own.

a. The next step is to write a book review in Word so that you can edit and also so that you can be sure to include all of the class requirements. (See book report submission form as it includes the provisions.)
b. Go to http://www.bookhooks.com and click on write a report.  Use your book report submission form to help fill in all of the required fields.  You should have kids cut and paste from their Word document so that their submission is free of errors.
c. Give the students your email address so that you get a copy of their report to grade and review (students can go back to edit errors at a later date.)
d. Submit review by clicking the submit button. The report will post in 48 hours and be in the teacher’s email with in 2 hours.
e. All submissions are published – you may want to have students turn in rough drafts before they submit,

6. Give students time to read each other’s reviews.

7. This is a great ongoing activity!

Assessment

You will now assess the students’ work on your email.
Use the following rubric to be sure that the students are meeting the requirements - http://rubistar.4teachers.org/view_rubric.php3?id=583719

It would be helpful to use the checklist of these points below along with the rubric.  I like to highlight the list so that I can see which standards kids are meeting.

• Identify the author’s purpose, position, bias and strategies in a persuasive selection
• Analyze selections of fiction, non-fiction and poetry by identifying the plot line (I.E., beginning, conflict, rising action, climax, and falling action.); distinguishing the main characters from minor ones, describing the relationship between and motivations of characters; making inferences about the events, setting, style, tone, mood, and meaning of the selection
• Use reading strategies such as making inferences and predictions, summarizing paraphrasing differentiating fact from opinion and determining the author’s purpose and perspective to comprehend written selections