University Of Mobile: Karen Dennis And UM's Literary Council Presents ‘Book Talk' Program At State Conference

Press release from the University of Mobile:

Sydney Snow

November 8, 2021

MOBILE, Ala. –

The virtual presentation was filmed in George and Pat Dorsett Auditorium on the university campus on Nov. 5. The Alabama Literacy Association is an affiliate of the International Literacy Association with a mission to transform lives through literacy. The virtual presentation gave UM School of Education students an opportunity to make a professional presentation in their field at a state level.

The Book Talk program encourages children to read through an engaging presentation of university students, faculty and staff dressed as characters in children’s books.

“Book Talks began in the Methods of Teaching Reading course as an assignment of an example for alternatives to the traditional book report,” said Dennis. “It introduces a strategy that could be used to engage elementary school students in discovering the joy of reading.”

Each semester, faculty and student members of the Literary Council make their books “talk,” said Dennis. “When we become our favorite literary characters and ‘sell’ our story to an audience, we generate enthusiasm and eagerness to read a book talk book to discover the ending, which — by the way — a good book talk never reveals.”

“Book Talks are beneficial in schools, because it allows the characters to really come to life,” said Amber Blackmon, UM Literary Council president. “Visualizing what they read allows children to feel enveloped by a story and become a part of it.”

The Literary Council buys a few Book Talk books to give to schools when they perform live. This semester, the council gave the following books: After the Fall – How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again, Snippets, Splatter and I’m Not Just a Scribble.

Literary Council officers include:

Amber Blackmon, president. Blackmon is an early childhood and elementary education major from Bay Minette, Alabama.

Maggie Diehl, vice-president. Diehl is an elementary education major from Fairhope, Alabama.

Mikaela Dees, secretary. Dees is an early childhood education major from Fruitdale, Alabama.

This press release was produced by the University of Mobile. The views expressed here are the author’s own.