“Book clubs and partnerships play a crucial role in supporting student comprehension and also in making the reading process a social one (Nichols, 2006). This is the first installment in a series of seven posts with ideas and suggestions for running effective literacy circles or book clubs with students from second grade through high school. Book Clubs are an opportunity for students to form partnerships in reading. Creating Book Clubs lays out a successful three-part model in which students read, discuss, and make Book Log entries that the authors developed in their own multilevel adult ESL classroom. Thank goodness for Laura’s slidecasts! Empower Student Literacy, Independent Reading, and Small Group Learning. That was me. You’re welcome, Milana! You’ll discover that Literature Circles are easier than you thought! How could they NOT be reading? My solution to this one is pretty straightforward: Use your school library. Scholastic Book Clubs is the best possible partner to help you get excellent children's books into the hands of every child, to help them become successful lifelong readers and discover the joy and power of … Before beginning the book club experience, I sat down to determine the goal. Click the video below and I’ll share the 7 steps to Classroom Book Clubs success! If you do, go for it! Please share your thoughts, ideas, and experiences in the comments. The library is the heart of a school. The down side to this approach is that some students are still going to be forced to read a book that wouldn’t have been their first choice. I use a great deal of the teaching materials and ideas from Laura Candler. “Classroom Book Clubs is so very well organized for a busy teacher! Certainly, it can take a wide variety of forms, and no one practice is the correct answer. I can’t wait to get this started!” ~ Lori Swan. It may seem like a stretch, but the Spring is such a great time to get your students ready and used to reading, thinking about, and discussing books with their peers instead of me, the teacher! The book explains how book clubs support students' need for extensive reading and high-interest reading. …wished for them to think of reading as an extension of themselves…as a part of who they are. During October, we study horror, mystery, and suspense (in keeping with Halloween). Imagine your students gathered in small groups around the room, actively sharing their thoughts, opinions, and questions about what they’ve just read. I couldn’t have had the confidence to start without Laura’s great slidecasts and PDF printouts. The Classroom Book Clubs program is a variation of traditional Literature Circles in which groups of students read the same book and have weekly meetings to discuss their thoughts and feelings about the book. Thanks for your encouraging words. My number one goal is helping to pair them with a novel I think they’ll actually want to read. Talk about your book with them. Finally, you’ll get much more buy-in from students if you’re passionate about book club. Classroom Book Clubs transformed my reading instruction and led to huge gains in my students’ reading comprehension and fluency. They’re pointing to pages in their books, defending their opinions, making predictions, and sharing their favorite parts. Please let us know all the ways you would like to hear from us: You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at melissa@readingandwritinghaven.com. To learn how the program is aligned with the Common Core. Setting up a book club through Google Classroom will allow you to cultivate a culture where reading is celebrated, talked about, and a social experience students will love participating in, all from the comfort of your computer. How to Run a Full-Choice Book Club in Your Classroom: Independent Reading in Secondary, How to Engage Students with Musical Debates. When done right, it can be such a fun learning experience for both the […] Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here. As an instructional coach, I'm always asking questions, trying new things, and reflecting. I knew when I moved to 7th grade that book clubs would be one of the things that moved with me. This is not a one-size-fits-all program, as she offers many options to make CBC work for real classrooms filled with students of every learning style. Some students may enjoy reading dramatic passages from the book … Read books they recommend to you. What are practical classroom implications for choice reading at the secondary level? Instead, she has great ideas, fantastic handouts for the class, and everything she does is about sharing with other teachers how to successfully implement her great ideas in the classroom. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Finally, the accountability piece in my classroom book clubs has evolved from Harvey Daniels’s literature circles in the early 1990s. Outside of the classroom, book clubs abound and range in many different formats, styles, and purposes. We will treat your information with respect. Besides a step-by-step slidecast with pictures and Laura’s voice walking me through each step, there are pages of PDF files that I can print out and use immediately in my classroom as handouts for my students to use. If you school decides to implement Classroom Book Clubs schoolwide or using the program for staff development, please purchase multiple licenses of the Classroom Book Clubs program or the Literature Circles Discussion Bundle. Book clubs can present opportunities for students to express their ideas in ways that fit their learning style. Students read a book together, collaborate to get a job done, and share in the joy of exploring a book together. After reviewing these materials, I started up my own Classroom Book Club, and it is running daily in my classroom. You will LOVE the self-direction, motivation, and authentic reading, writing, and responding to literature that book clubs will bring to your classroo There’s a lot to juggle when book clubs are happening in our classrooms. Why it matters. To make it super-easy for you to implement book clubs in your classroom, I’ve created a series of 5 video tutorials to explain everything in a step-by-step manner. What the implications are of not reading. When you’re thinking about this issue, consider whether or not you have funding to purchase sets of books. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. Thanks, Marnie! This is why I was so excited about Laura’s new Classroom Book Club materials and training. The accompanying worksheets are teacher and student-friendly. How to set up an online book club: 1. It’s so comprehensive…I feel like I could start it tomorrow and it would be a success. When I first began using book clubs in my classroom, I did so because many of my students wanted to be able to read for fun without a corresponding project or essay. Often called literature circles, literature study and here, book clubs, this book provides the theoretical background as well as the in-class applications for use in any situation. Laura has thoughtfully designed a high quality and practical professional learning package that works! Organizing clubs, managing them while they’re up and running, determining the instruction that students in each club … The use of a book club in class provides an “opportunity for personal response to encourage students to construct meaning with their peers and to question whether meaning is inherent in text” (Raphael & McMahon, 1994, p. 103). So Where does a Teacher Begin? All other printables and resources are located in the TpT product folder. That shared reading experience where students would get to just read and discuss is something I have loved having in the classroom the past few years. Your account has been locked for security. Whether you’re considering a classroom book club for the first time, or are already guiding your students through their third book this year, here’s a list of benefits and some tips for success you can employ right away! Many people would love to try running a book club in their classroom, but due to the rigorous standards and curriculum they must meet, they feel like it’s an overwhelming task. Worried about meeting Common Core State Standards? The Classroom Book Clubs program includes membership in a private Facebook group of teachers who are implementing this approach to Literature Circles. As I mentioned earlier, my school librarian is the bees’ knees. Hi, I'm Melissa. I have grown my classroom library over a long period of time. Here are some tips for how to have a successful book club and discussion in our class. Laura makes me look good because I am able to use her fantastic strategies in my classroom. An avid reader and writer, I've had the privilege of teaching English for over a decade and am now an instructional coach. Not saying it’s impossible! Each video is chock full of helpful information that is designed to help you feel confident and competent from the beginning. Throughout the year, my students study reading strategies and literary terms, which are also simple to connect to our book club units through writing prompts and discussion questions. (Includes 1 membership in Facebook group), Classroom Book Clubs is a part of the Literature Circles Discussion Bundle which also includes Talking Sticks Discussions and Discussion Connections, two products to help foster more collaborative discussions. Also, you’ll gather valuable information about trends in your room. Her materials give me the confidence to begin, not just add another book on my shelf to look at sometime in the future.” ~ Francie Kugelman, “As a parent of two children with special needs who runs a non-profit to help families and children with Autism, I don’t have much time to fit in anything extra. Not only was I able to listen to the trainings while doing the dishes and driving the kids to therapies, but the downloading and printing was so easy that I could learn something that I really think the kids will love without taking a day away for professional development or getting behind in everything else I need to get done. I have grown my classroom library over a long period of time. Classroom libraries are a beautiful thing, but in order to effectively run a book club, you need more than a classroom library can provide, unless you are limiting students’ choices to a certain list of options. For example, they can work together on creating presentations to share with the rest of the class. You can view each segment either consecutively or independently and then quickly implement Classroom Book Clubs with your students. With adult book clubs, the host or hostess usually guides the discussions. In real life, people read for pleasure in addition to their job, in addition to raising a family, and in addition to working out, cleaning their house, and cooking food. (The Literature Circles Discussion Bundle includes 1 membership in Facebook group). Face to face or virtually, book clubs are the perfect way to get your readers reading! Click on the images below to view the independent reading program materials I use when I implement a book club in the classroom. Reading and Writing Haven will use the information you provide on this form to be in touch with you and to provide updates and marketing. Reading Bulletin Boards: Bookish Culture Ideas for Middle... A Fun Vocabulary Activity for Middle or High School, 5 Brain-Based Vocabulary Activities for the Secondary Classroom, The Grammar Nerds Tell All: How to Sequence Grammar Instruction, Best Books for English Teachers: Professional Development, Middle School Books Recommended by Teachers, Teaching Conclusion Paragraphs in Middle and High School, How to Teach Sentence Structure: Simple, Compound, Complex, Compound-Complex, 10 ELA Lesson Plans that Engage Students Any Time of Year, Reading Bulletin Boards: Bookish Culture Ideas for Middle and High School, 14 Ways to Support Struggling Writers: Build Confidence and Increase Success, Email Etiquette: Teaching Students How to Email a Teacher. I make sure they understand that reading is crucial to their success in life. Hopefully, you have a rockstar librarian like I do who keeps up with the most recent young adult literature, Abe Lincoln books, and student favorites. I didn’t want my students to perceive book club as something they had to “make time for.” Rather, I wanted them to see it as something everyone has time for if they make it a priority. During this time, I made sure we were studying historical fiction as a book club, and if students wanted to, they could read a second historical fiction book on their own to complement TKAM, but I didn’t make them. In the next post, read about how to establish expectations and create a schedule. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms. I use this survey to gather information about my students’ previous experiences with reading as well as to get an idea of what type of books they enjoy. Subscribe to my mailing list for new blog posts, teaching resources, & inspiration. The book explains how book clubs support students' need for … Each round of Classroom Book Clubs takes only 2 to 3 weeks, so it allows you to add a little variety to your literacy program. circle the way it had with the novel unit, and I too implemented a book club. What I’m sharing with you worked for me in my setting under my given circumstances. This problem is what led me away from literature circles. Read with them. You don’t have to wonder if they’re reading – you know they’re reading! This is the space where I share my learning with others. This context is implemented during small-group literacy instruction where the children discuss a self-selected book that they have read and the teacher supports them during their discussion. During book clubs, I offer five or six books that are related either to a whole class text or to each other by topic, theme, genre, or author. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. These help me with engagement, accountability, and organization. The only time book club didn’t run in addition to course literature was if we were already reading a novel that demanded reading time outside of class. You’ve just observed the excitement of Classroom Book Clubs, an easy and effective variation of traditional Literature Circles. I am one of those teachers who buy professional books, I but never get a chance to sit down and read them! Her materials are so hands on and so adaptable that they work great with so many kids that learn in different ways from the norm, including the kids that I work with on the Autism Spectrum. But how? Your students will love the choice and autonomy of book clubs. …needed to connect the book clubs to the ELA curriculum and standards. The Classroom Book Clubs program is a terrific alternative to the traditional teacher workshop as a way of learning how to implement literature circles. I encourage you to use what you want and change what you need to in order to fit your situation. Book clubs also provide the social enjoyment factor that students need to stay engaged with a text. Book club is no exception. Thank you, Laura, for sharing your expertise with me!” ~ Tammi Pittaro. I recommend starting a book club at the beginning of the year. (-: I’ve created a series of video lessons that walk you through the process, step-by-step. She comes in, gives book talks that would interest even the most reluctant of readers, gets the students excited about a novel, and then encourages them to come see her in the library to check out the novels. Explore the same genre as them. This book is a gem if you are a teacher, elementary or secondary who is interested in using literature in the classroom. Address the question of “Why does this matter?” by presenting a few facts each day. Now you can learn how to implement Classroom Book Clubs in your own classroom. Each week, the Book Talk Leader would be someone new. In order to justify devoting class time to any particular event on a regular basis, I need to know I’ll be covering standards. You could learn about plot one month, characters another, setting another, theme, etcetera, and then focus on those aspects of the books your students read during that time period. Using Classroom Book Clubs will help you meet the majority of the CCSS for Speaking and Listening! Thanks for purchasing the Classroom Book Clubs: Literature Circles Made Easy program. It’s infectious. The Fountas & Pinnell Classroom™ Book Club Collection is for the classroom teacher who wants to encourage agency and stir in-depth discussion in students, grades K–6. So. The second half of the video shows you what NOT to do. The key concept here is choice. Once in a while, their parents will take them to the town library or purchase them a text from Amazon or a book store. Teachers who have used this method find that their students enjoy the social aspects of reading and discussing books. Instead, you can download the videos and watch them at your leisure for a fraction of that cost. (159) Book clubs are opportunities for students to choose what they read, when they read, where they read, how they read, and with whom they read. I’d love to tell you how it works! I also have struggled over the years getting the quality of conversation I wanted to come out of the Lit. I’ve spent 15 years experimenting with Literature Circles in my classroom, and I finally found an approach that students enjoy, an approach that’s free of cumbersome management systems. Why does the book club model work? In 2016–17, my ninth graders read popular young adult titles by authors such as John Green, Rainbow Rowell, and Ernest Cline. It was something we would do to complement the other course work. Effective Read Alouds for Teaching Literary Elements. You won’t have to assign roles because your students will learn how to talk about books naturally as you might do in your own book club. Some did; other’s didn’t, and that was fine. I utilize her once a month. In my experience, a group of 6 students needs a little more monitoring and teacher intervention. Whenever possible, I tie the monthly genre in with the time of year. Book clubs in first grade?! The students get extremely revved up for new book club choices. Her voice is clear and calm, and she explains with insight as a teacher who has tried and used all of these ideas and materials in her own classroom. Download the CCSS reference below to see exactly which standards are met by Literature Circles and Book Clubs. Maybe a majority of the students need more work on character development. I definitely tried to cover all the basis. High-Interest Young Adult Novels to Add to Your... Help Students Develop a Reading Habit: 8 Things... Analyzing Children’s Books in the Secondary Classroom, Creating a Reading Culture that Inspires Secondary Students. The second post details how to establish expectations and create a schedule, and the third post discusses accountability and assessment procedures. That person became the Book Talk Leader. Laura Candler is not about educational theory. Back in the day, my literature circles/book clubs had packets of role sheets to fill out as they read and every time they met. Book club is such a huge topic! No existing curriculum needed to be sacrificed to make room for book club. I begin with a reading interest inventory. In my free time, I enjoy loving on my kids, deconstructing sentences, analyzing literature, making learning fun, working out, and drinking a good cup of coffee. After reading The Book Whisperer, I was inspired to structure my book club units around genres. We typically start book club a month into the school year due to BOY Testing and other classroom management goals we focus on. If you organize your meetings around genres or themes, students will still be able to have intelligent conversations about the unique texts they have each read. Get some teachery camaraderie in your inbox! It’s all fine and dandy to say you want to run a book club until you have to face the reality of finding the books. We may process your information in accordance with these terms created a new book club in your classroom book ideas... Much more buy-in from students if you continue to use this site we will assume you! Clubs would be someone new a book club ), it leaves a lot to when. Instructional coach, I started thinking about this issue, consider whether or book clubs in the classroom... How book Clubs to the ELA curriculum and standards enrichment activity, accountability, and Cline! 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