This program encourages students to read, explore new ideas through books, learn the importance of children’s literature and poetry, and allows them a few minutes to be silly. This 2 hour monthly program began in June of 2005 and includes a selection of the following: age appropriate fiction and nonfiction booktalks, and poetry exploration. It is given to male and female groups separately ranging in size from 2 to 20 middle and high school students. Currently, this program is being presented at the Seminole County Juvenile Detention Center. All books presented are donated to the facility. Having access to the books immediately after the program has been highly successful. The books remain at the facility and continue to circulate among the students through book carts provided by the teachers and the guards during and after school hours.
Props, costumes, music, and accents are used to enhance the booktalk experience. The benefits of reading aloud to children and children’s poetry are presented and discussed. Students are encouraged to read poetry aloud individually and in groups of two. Poems are sung and recited to music. Poetry is created as a group. To view poetry created by students in this program, visit our tumblr and twitter accounts, as well as our Expressions page.
Go to our calendar of events for information on upcoming programs.
