Does it seem like your students are choosing the same books for independent reading over and over again? It's no secret that students choose books they are familiar with or have read before; and there is merit in reading a book more than once. But, I was looking for a way to break up the monotony. Then, I stumbled across Book Tasting.
Book Tasting! It sounded like such fun. But, as I started to explore the facets to this fun, my head began to spin. I decided to scale it down a bit and provide my students the "basics". My goal was to keep as much of the fun as I could, but to also experience an easy set up and easy clean up.
The following is how I run Book Tasting in my classroom...
You will need:
- Dollar Store plastic tablecloths for each table (if you want to be really fancy, get the red and white picnic table-themed covers)
- Placemats (I print mine on cardstock)
- Genre Placards (for each section/table)
- Student Trifold (copy one for each student, and a few extra)
- 12-15 books of each genre/category (our librarian was a huge help with this!)
To Set Up:
- Place plenty of placemats at each table. You need at least one placemat per student but it's even better if you can set a couple extra out. The extra place settings will give the students a larger sense of choice as they approach the table for their turn at the genre/category.
- Place one book on each placemat. As each student sits at the table they will have one book already in front of them when their time begins.
- Place additional books in the center of the table.
To Book Taste:
- Explain to students about how to book taste. Look at the cover (front and back), the spine, read any text on the covers, flip through the pages, notice any illustrations. Finally, sample a bit of the author's writing. If students have tried a decent-sized sample and the book still isn't interesting to them, that's when it would be time to switch the book.
- Set a timer. Let students know they will have X-amount of time to explore the books at that table.
- When the timer has about one minute to go, have students make their final selection and write down the book information in a trifold. Most vital are the title and author. But, they can also note the genre, number of pages, and what they like about the book. The trifold will become a reference point for them in the future. When they look back on what they wrote a month (or two or three) ago the notes will help them remember the book.
I use different genres each time. If I have more than one book tasting in a school year, I try to have different genres compared to the previous book tasting.
Book tasting this year involved all 3 fourth grade classrooms in my building. We divided up the genres so each classroom offered something different. We moved kids through the rooms according to homeroom. While visiting each room, students had designated time at each genre/category.
We had plastic tablecloths decorating each table to bring color and novelty to the rooms. We also copied the placemats and placards in a variety of colors to catch the students’ eyes. We had enough time for students to rotate through two of the three classrooms. There was a bit of grumbling when they mathematically figured out that they would not be visiting one of the three rooms!
Each placemat had one book ready to go. Students chose a place to sit. Once the "round" began, students could sample the book in front of them or they could swap it with a book in the middle of the table. Toward the end of their time at that table, students used their trifold to record basic book information.
Overall students were able to book taste at least 5 different genres. Books remained available for a short time afterward in case students wanted to peruse a genre they didn't get to during the tasting.
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Weeks later, I still see student trifolds inside reading folders and binders. Some students keep them nearby for their next trip to the library. Book tasting gives students an opportunity to look at and consider books they might never explore independently. One of the most common revelations during book tasting relates back to the adage "don't judge a book by its cover"!
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