Conducting a Book Tasting is one of my favorite lessons of the year. It combines the things I love most about teaching – creativity, collaboration, and most of all, BOOKS! If you have never heard of a Book Tasting, the goal of the activity is to allow students to self-select novels for an independent reading assignment or literature circles. Students are grouped and then given time to explore novels at each table. This is consistently one of both me and my students’ favorite activities of the year. Below are 5 tips (and some bonus grouping suggestions) to help you run a successful Book Tasting with your classes!
Tip #1: Collaborate
Enlist your Media Specialist to help you conduct this activity. In my experience, Media Specialists tend to be incredibly well-versed in their craft. I have had the pleasure of working with an exceptional Media Specialist for the past few years who has helped me run this activity multiple times. Media Specialists can help you brainstorm grouping, find book titles that fit your needs, and run the actual lesson with you. (I find that having two people circling the room to discuss the novels with kids is very helpful!) If you don’t have a Media Specialist available, team up with another teacher in your content area and run the activity together.
Tip #2: Be Intentional
Set expectations first and assign groups before beginning the activity if necessary. Know which of your students are going to naturally love an activity like this and which may need additional assistance. Group your students accordingly so they can help each other find something they will love.
Tip #3: Make it Meaningful
While we all would love if our students naturally read for the love of reading, we know that is often not the case. Make sure your students know exactly what you are expecting to come from the reading. Will they have class time to read? How will they be assessed? (Hint: Try a one-pager! My students love completing them after an independent reading assignment and they do a great job of showing what the students know.)
Tip #4: Be Creative
Since the Book Tasting is supposed to provide your students with an opportunity to “savor” books, have fun with the activity! Turn your space into a restaurant – wear an apron, provide ‘menu’s’ to the students to complete, use décor such as place mats, centerpieces, or table cloths to create an authentic experience, or even provide refreshments to actually taste. My students love this added touch and it really helps increase engagement. (Hint: Here is the link to the templates I use in my own classroom. The product allows for grouping in two ways – one by number and one according to menu “course.” There is also a digital option if you’re teaching in a hybrid or virtual setting. See grouping suggestions below!)
#5: Be Proactive
We all know that some Young Adult novels contain material we would not cover in our own classrooms. Since we are all human, we can’t possibly have read all YA novels in print to know which are appropriate and which are not. If you are concerned about the possibility of allowing students to self-select appropriate material, send a letter home to allow parents to opt-out. If parents object, choose only select novels for those students to “taste.” (If you want a pre-made letter, find mine here!)
BONUS: Grouping Suggestions for Your Book Tasting
- By Genre: Allow students to choose from different genres. Here are a few examples.
- By Theme: This is my favorite way to group novels. Since our students often read texts in sets, I make them choose their independent reading based on a shared theme with our class’ target text. Here is an extensive list of theme ideas.
- By Novel: Only offering a small selection of novels to your students? Feature one at each group. If possible, include author information, setting details, and maybe even a laptop to stream a student-created book trailer at each table.
Book Tasting Examples and Inspiration
Here are some photos from a Book Tasting I did in my own classroom to give you some inspiration for yours!
Ready to get started? Make sure you check out my templates for a ready-to-use resource!
How are you going to use a Book Tasting with your classes this year? Sound off in the comments below or follow me on Facebook or Instagram to join the discussion!
Happy teaching!
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