Chapter Graphic
 : Favourite Book
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Approach: One to one Level: 4 & 8 
Focus:   Interest in reading 
Resources: Picture
800kb
Questions/instructions:
Show picture.
These pictures show people reading books.

I’m interested in hearing you tell me about a book you have read this year.

Try to think of a book that you really enjoyed.

Think about it for a moment, and when you have thought of the book, let me know.

Allow time.

% responses
y4
y8
1. Can you remember what the book was called – its title?    
identified specific title
84
85
If student can’t remember a book they have read, discontinue task.
2. Do you remember who wrote it – the author?
prompt: What was the author’s name?
  
identified author (full name or surname)
32
49
3. What was the book about?
rich detailed account
20
32
 
moderately full account
38
40
sketchy account
33
23
nothing useful
9
5
4. Tell me what made this a really good book for you to read – why you enjoyed reading it?
 
genre/type of book
29
36
topic/content
56
64
visual content
9
3
reading level
9
5
learnt a lot from it
7
10
writing style
11
17
good characters
7
7
How strongly did student
communicate enjoyment of book?
extremely strongly
7
11
 
strongly
22
25
moderately strongly
35 36
a little
28 19
not at all
8 9
5. Have you read any other books by the same author?
    
prompt: Can you remember what
the books were called?
yes, specifying title
37 34
 
no, not named
12 13
6. Have you read any other books that were like this one?
   
prompt: Can you remember what
the books were called?
yes, specifying title
22 25
 
no, not named
13 10

Commentary:
 This task is not focused on student performance, but provides a window into student attitudes toward reading and reading experience. About 85 percent of year 4 and year 8 students identified a favourite book, but year 8 students were more aware of the author and a little better at telling what the book was about. The type of book and its content are the major factors in identifying the favourite book as a “really good book to read”, but some year 8 students were also interested in the writing style. About one third of students at both year levels communicated strong enjoyment of the book when discussing it.
 
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