[LM_NET] HIT: Book reviews by students

[Rachel Kerr <elib@NARDIN.ORG>]

Thank you so much to everyone who responded to my query about how to go
about having students do book reviews.  I've posted some of the responses
that I received.  Thanks again!!

I have a blog on my web page and teachers have encouraged students to fill
this out.

I just got my new Flip Video camera from Follett and am filming short book
reviews by students.  We incorporate them into the student-produced video
news program and imbed them in our website.  We advertised that we were
looking for "future stars" on our daily announcements, and I also teamed
up with the drama teacher and forensics coach.  That gave us a sizable
talent pool to get us started.  So far, the "stars" are having a ball and
are being received well by the student body.  This is just one of several
new projects I started when I became the LMS here at Leavenworth High
School.  It's a thrill to know that our circulation is up more than 1/3
over previous years!

I put all our new books this year on a wiki for kids or anyone to add
their reviews.  It's a pretty basic wiki.

If you really want to keep it informal, try a podcast.  Use a digital
voice recorder and have them record their thoughts and ideas about the
book.  Then import and voila!

 
I am just starting book reviews also.  We use Destiny, so students can
type their reviews into Destiny.  Those reviews automatically come to me,
I approve or cancel them, and they they appear in the catalog when
students do their searches.  I set it up with my 5th and 6th grade
teachers as a collaborative unit.  They are teaching the kids to write
the reviews, since it's part of the standards to write for a specific
purpose and audience.  They discuss movie reviews, restaurant reviews
etc.  After they have written their reviews, I show them how to put it in
Destiny, and then the students give their books review presentations
to their classes.  

 Because we have the new Destiny Quest catalog, my 4th graders are
writing reviews in the catalog this year. I have also used an online book
discussion forum for 4th and 5th grade: my school uses Moodle, so we've
used that, with great success.

 
I got my kids to check out www.teenink.com to look at book reviews by
students. Then I waited until a bunch of them had read the Twilight
series. I asked two girls to write a review on Twilight and posted it on
my library website. Then I asked others to bring me reviews of books they
were reading. I would ask them when they turn the book in. If they rave
about how great the book was--have them write a review. I give posters,
pens, prizes for writing reviews. I get the prizes from my Scholastic book
fair.

 
We use Destiny as our on-line catalog. This semester 7th grade students
are sending brief reviews to their Language Arts teachers, getting them
approved, then sending them to me to be added to Destiny. The reviews
average 5 or 6 sentences.

I stuck a library pocket in the front of our state book award books with
blank 3x5 cards in them.  The pocket has a generic sticker that says:
 
Write a Great Stone Face Review!
   - write the title of the book
   - write your name
   - write what you liked or tell why
     someone else should read it
    - give it to the librarian

I also have a big piece of art paper with matching pockets that have the
book cover on it where the reviews can be put.  Kids love pulling out the
cards and reading the comments.  The small size (3x5) is great, because
the students realize they don't have to write very much!

 
In Destiny, the students can create online book reviews to be added to the
catalog.  I complete a lesson on book reviews (talking about what they
are, the components of a "thorough" review, and show them samples) then,
each student is required to create their own review of a book they
borrowed in the library.



Rachel Kerr
Library Media Specialist 
Nardin Academy - Elementary Division
135 Cleveland Ave.
Buffalo, NY 14222
elib@nardin.org

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