Ansbach High School Transforms Information Center Into Literary Café

Schuettpelz, Daren Mr.

Jan 21, 2026

Students participate in a Book Tasting activity during the Ansbach Middle/High School Literary Café in Ansbach, Germany. The event encouraged students to sample a variety of genres while applying AVID reading and writing strategies.

ANSBACH, Germany — The Ansbach Middle/High School Information Center took on a creative new look this week as it transformed into the Ansbach Literary Café, offering students an immersive way to explore new genres while strengthening literacy and writing skills.

Language Arts and Advanced Placement English students participated in a “Book Tasting” experience that encouraged them to sample a variety of texts in an atmosphere designed to spark curiosity and engagement. Rather than traditional reading assignments, students explored books as if selecting items from a café menu, discovering new authors and genres along the way.

To kick off the third quarter, AMHS information specialist Meghann Parry partnered with language arts teacher Daren Schuettpelz to host the event. While book tastings have been used at the school in previous years, this iteration included an academic focus aligned with the AMHS School Action Plan for Literacy. The activity incorporated AVID strategies to deepen student engagement with each text.

Students selected from multiple AVID-based approaches, including “3-2-1” reflections, “GIST” summaries, and 60-second “Elevator Pitches,” allowing them to analyze and reflect on each book sample in a structured yet flexible way.

“Book tastings are a fun way to get students to pick up books they might not normally select,” Schuettpelz said. “Couple that with treats at the table and you’ve got an engaging learning activity. It feels less like school and more like fun, which is what reading should be.”

Students also shared positive feedback about the experience.

“I think that book tastings are a good way to get a feel for new books,” senior Nathan A. said. “It is a short amount of time to read, but you learn a lot in those few pages.”

At Ansbach Middle/High School, the focus on literacy extends across departments through the AVID WICOR framework—writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading. Activities such as the Literary Café Book Tasting demonstrate how academic rigor and productive struggle can be combined with creativity to make learning both meaningful and enjoyable for students.