Seventh‑grade 'Starbucks Café' book‑tasting brings reading to life at MAMS
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Summary
A seventh‑grade language arts program at Matawan‑Aberdeen’s middle school used a coffee‑shop theme to encourage students to sample new genres. Teacher and students presented the 'Starbucks Café' book‑tasting project at the Oct. 27 board meeting, describing interactive menus, music and informal book reviews designed to expand reading habits.
Seventh‑grade language arts teacher Mrs. Galeo and student Emily Goldberg presented a classroom book‑tasting activity called “Starbucks Café” at the Oct. 27 Matawan‑Aberdeen Regional School District Board of Education meeting.
Mrs. Galeo described the event as a cozy, coffee‑shop–inspired atmosphere where students sampled books the way customers might sample drinks: they sat in comfortable spots, used menus to try different genres and recorded first impressions as brief reviews. The teacher said the activity was designed to expose students to genres they might not choose on their own and to make reading feel enjoyable rather than like an assignment.
Student presenter Emily Goldberg told the board she enjoyed sampling dystopian and fantasy titles and that the event broadened her reading “palette.” The teacher credited colleagues, the seventh‑grade team and the Matawan‑Aberdeen Educational Foundation for support. Board members praised the hands‑on approach; administrators cited it as one example of instructional practice that may contribute to the district’s improved ELA outcomes.
No board action was required for the presentation. District staff said photos and a summary of the program will be posted on the district website.