*Check out this resource from Matty Cline! If you would also like to share a resource of yours and have it featured on Tolentino Teaching’s website and social media–please email your resource at tolentinoteaching@gmail.com

Last year, I hosted a book tasting for my students and transformed the classroom into a full-on fine-dining restaurant. Think tablecloths, (fake) candles, and carefully curated tables.

Each table featured a small selection of books, along with a “menu” that gave a short description of each title. Students had a few minutes to browse, read a sample, and then fill out a comment card—Were they interested? Would they keep reading? Was it a pass or a yes?

It was one of those activities that students still talk about, and honestly, it was just plain fun. I’m definitely bringing it back.

I called the restaurant Book-a-di-Beppo… and yes, I wore an apron and a fake mustache the entire time.

Google Doc of Activities:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h5VDNKbdIrwSR_stb7MYVQgiqKYcjmCXYT5mAIND868/edit?usp=sharing