Tell Me (children, Reading & Talk) with the Reading Environment

Tell Me (children, Reading & Talk) with the Reading Environment Synopsis

Tell Me offers practical information underpinned by clearly explained theory about book-talking in the classroom, explaining some of the processes and outlining the ground rules developed by experienced practitioners. A Framework has been formulated, 'a repertoire of questions that assist readers in speaking about their reading'.

With any group of readers we find that if they begin by sharing their most obvious observations they soon accumulate a body of understanding that reveals the heart of the text and its meaning(s) for them all. Even when quite complicated or abstract ideas are approached in this way (through story images and talked-out interpretations) there is little that even young children cannot grasp. In this activity there is a balance to be found between respect for the rights of the individual as a reader and a talker and the corporately composed reading of the group - the community text which is always more complex and insightful than one individual reading can ever be.

But to be most effective 'Tell Me' booktalk must be supported by the environment in which it is practised. This is explained in the first part of the book:

The Reading Environment describes, with many practical examples, the surroundings and attitudes that support pupils' encounters with books in school, enabling them to become thoughtful, willing readers, who enjoy reading.

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