it’s iNavis… the teacher technologist

I have been using Audacity to create book reviews in my class. I give my 5th grade students the following criteria for reviewing books:

For your podcast be sure to include the following features. You may place them in any order but be sure you include them all in your review. Remember, no more than three minutes total for your book review.

• Title and Author
• What type of Genre is the book?
• Describe the setting
• A description of the main characters
• Why did you choose this book?
• A summary of the conflict in the book - don’t give away the ending
• Read a meaningful passage and explain why you chose it
• Explain why you would recommend the book
• What level reader it is for?
• Include your FIRST name

Here’s an example of Raven’s Gate by Steven.
Raven’s Gate

As a final step, we are accumulating a collection of the top reviews and adding them to the library website for kids to listen to. This is only beginning to roll out now. They will be able to search by author, genre, as well as level of book. (HKIS uses the Diagnostic Reading Assessment [DRA] continuum for leveling books.)

~ by dcnavis on May 23, 2008. Tagged: , book review, Diagnostic Reading Assessment, podcast, Raven's Gate