Book Talk
DCSF Publications Tel: 0845 60 222 60
Booklet: 00467-2008BKT-EN
DVD: 00761-2008DVD-EN
“I spend much of my time not writing at all.
First, I ‘write’ the stories in my head and
dream them and weave them until they’re
ready. Then, I sit on the bed and ‘tell’
them down onto the page.”
Michael Morpurgo
Good writers…
Plan
Talk for Writing is…
…the developmental exploration,
through talk, of the thinking and
creative processes involved in
being a writer.
Pie Corbett Talk for Writing workshops 2007-2008
‘Book Talk’ is…
• learning about a book by talking about it;
• talking to deepen understanding and
critical appreciation;
• giving children time to think collectively
and tentatively, proposing and reshaping
their understanding;
• only worth doing if the book contains
anything worth talking about!
Creating Interest
Warming up the imagination
Book-talk
All was still in the valley of the
dragons. Mist had drifted in from
the sea nearby and was clinging
to the mountains. Birds twittered
uncertainly in the foggy damp,
and clouds hid the sun.
The Dragon Machine
Work with a partner to
‘book talk’, using the
example in the handout.
The Dragon Machine
Creating a reading area
Reading Journal
Retelling
Story Sacks
Fill with items to retell the story and
stimulate discussion about the themes
and issues
Collective Drawing
Empty chair
Role play what you would want to say to
George’s parents if they were sat there.
Comparing two images
Book Gossip
Top tips from Pie Corbett
Use drama techniques to
develop and enhance book talk.