Book Talk Podcast: Turning Pages & Tuning In

In a digital world, Peck fifth graders are finding a way to keep a love for literature alive, combining good old-fashioned reading with a new form of storytelling: podcasting!

As a part of the Upper School curriculum, students participate in Reading Zones, or small groups from each grade level to independently read books of their choice, and give a brief overview of the book they read to promote it to their peers. Reading zones give students the opportunity to read for pleasure, choose books that most interest them, and give them a space to share their excitement for reading.

“Book Talks have been a great way to promote independent reading and allow students to work on their public speaking skills. When students have the opportunity to share their excitement for pleasure reading with their peers, others are more inclined to check out those books too,” says Peck School Librarian and Literacy Specialist Melissa Sorge.

It wasn’t until a few fifth-grade students, who were particularly enthusiastic about the books that they read, decided to take their book talks to the next level. Britton W. ‘27 kicked off Book Talks as she sat down to record an interview with Sorge to discuss The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy by Anne Urso.

Using a digital platform like a podcast allows students to take their Book Talks to a bigger audience, and also inspires them to find innovative ways to share information in today’s digital world!