Talking, Writing, and Thinking About Books shows teachers how to engage students in reading, responding to what they read, and improving reading comprehension. It features 101 ready-to-copy, single-page activities that involve students in all aspects of the reading process. The activities encompass the complete range of the language arts; students use writing, talk, drama, visual arts and other media to express their thoughts and ideas. The full array of text components—character, setting, plot, personal response, language, and words—are also covered. An ideal complement to any literature study, the activities are organized around the major components of language arts:

Oral Language—talking about character, plot, language, and words;Drama—bringing character and plot to life;Visual Arts—creating art based on literary character, setting, and plot;Writing—formal and informal expression of character, events, setting,plot, language, and words;Research—investigating details about author, setting, and genre.

The activities in Talking, Writing, and Thinking About Books are flexible enough to use with individuals, partners, and small groups, and in conjunction with a wide variety of texts from novels to newspapers. In addition, the busy teacher will find time-saving assessment forms (for teacher and student) invaluable. Simple tools give the teacher a quick record of student work habits and quality of work. A companion checklist for students helps them reflect on their work, follow directions, and complete tasks.