I chose Chatting About Books from Read, Write, Think because I enjoy teaching writing and love reading. I really liked this podcast because there was great information on books for children age 4-11. The speaker, 3rd grade teacher Emily Manning, is informative and has lots of insight into age-appropriate books. I chose to listen to a podcast about election books and the election process, which has current and relevant information. The first speaker highlights good points about three specific books and points out the positive parts of the book as well as caution against one book that may be challenging on some levels.
Then she has a “cookies and milk” conversation with a 4th grade student named Jared and the interaction is charming and helpful. In fact, the student turned the tables on the teacher and got the teacher to question her own point of view during discussion of a certain book.
Next, the speaker talks to Kathleen Krull in “expert chat;” she interviews the actual author of the books she recommends, which is incredibly insightful. She asks the purpose of the author’s blog, www.inkrethink.blogspot.com, a group of non-fiction writers who write about interesting non-fiction for children.
Author Kathleen Krull, as a child
Podcasts are a wonderful use of technology in education. To listen, check out my widget on the sidebar, there’s a link to the feed or go to the podcast at Read,Write,Think
