HIT: Book Clubs (long)

[Betty Klein <kleibet@AVERYCOONLEY.ORG>]

A big THANK YOU to everyone who responded.  Here are the responses I
received.


Dear Betty,
    I have had book clubs when I was a language arts teacher; now I'm the
library media specialist at my middle school...and planning to start up
again.  In the past, I used to select a different type of book each month
(variety of genres and reading levels.) I was fortunate enough to have a
budget, and I'd  buy about twelve paperbacks.  I'd pass these out to the
interested kids, allow about three weeks for the reading, and then we'd meet

after school for an informal discussion. ( I'd bring in cookies and milk for

refreshments.)  I'd prepare some open-ended discussion questions ahead of
time, just to keep things rolling.
   I'd be interested in hearing how other people do the book clubs. Good
luck.
                                                                 Barbara
Ransom
                                                                 Robbins
Middle School
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Dear Betty,
Hi! I am in a Ninth Grade Center, all 750 students are Ninth Graders. Last
year we had a Cyber Book Club and all read the same author and then
discussed the books online. It worked okay, I found that the students who
like to read didn't necessarily want to talk online and the computer savy
students didn't want to read. We all read the same authors and I let the
students pick the authors. We read Philip Pullman, David Eddings and
Caroline Cooney. This year I am going to continue the club online and the
students have requested a lunchtime club, but we haven't started yet. For
the lunchtime club, we will all read the same book. I've chosen Fever as
the first book and I will let you know how it works out. I'd be interested
in any suggestions that you receive.
Thanks,
Kathy
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I chose Tuck Everlasting because I think it is a book that is overlooked and
I am hoping that the kids haven't read it.  I used lists of books that were
recommended for "teaching of novels" as a place to get ideas for book
titles.  I thought I would have an organizational meeting with a number of
books available for them to look over.  Then I thought we would spend some
time choosing titles based on what they want to read.  I have sign-up on
Friday and until I know just how many students I will be dealing with I am
really playing things by ear.  I am hoping that the students will really
guide this club along and make it into something that they want rather that
what I think it should be.

-Mary Stewart Lewis, Library Director
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Dear Betty,
I have just signed on to sponsor a book club for my middle schoolers so I am
interested in what you may learn.  Thus far this is my plan.  We will meet
once per month at 7:00 am to discuss a book.  I will feed them breakfast,
bagels, juice and milk.  I have chosen the first book but thought I would
let them decide how we would continue.

Mary Stewart Lewis, Library Director
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Last year I put together a book club for junior high. We chose an author or
book as a group, and met once a month over lunch to  discuss it. It was
open to anyone. From my student population of 90, I had 5 kids.
This year I've assigned genres to each month. We met on Tuesday over lunch.
There were, I think, 10 kids there. I think it'll be easier to select a
genre since we won't have to find mutltiple copies of a book. It also
serves as an opportunity for kids to tell other kids about books...lots of
different books.
The students who were present enjoyed the conversation. They assured me
that I didn't have to bribe them with anything to get them to come back
next month. :-)

Good luck,
Marsha
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Hi Betty,

We're into our third year of the Book Club here at Patrick Henry High School

(Hamler, Ohio).  I have about 15 students signed up so far this year.  We've

had our first meeting and will be reading a common book to discuss.

We meet once a month during lunch. We meet during lunch for a couple of
reasons.  Our high schoolers are so busy after school that finding a meeting

date when there weren't conflicts was impossible.  Also, our school is
located
in the corn fields of northwest Ohio and many students, especially the
younger
ones, don't have a ride home if they don't take the bus.  For some students,

this is the only extracurricular activity they can join. We don't have as
much
time for meeting at lunch--less than a half hour.  (I'd like to have an
activity period worked into our daily schedule so we'd have more time to
meet.
 There are other things I'd like to do if only we had more time.)

I have an account that I put fine money, etc. into and this is used for
"supplies"--napkins, pop, chips and cookies.  The students bring their own
sandwiches. (Although some just eat the pop, chips and cookies!) I have a
cooler in my office if they need to leave their sandwiches there until
lunch.

Last year I wrote a grant to a local agency and received $800 to buy sets of

books.  I still have $200 left and will use that for a couple more sets.  In

addition to reading a common book, we have done some Reader's Theater for
visiting elementary students, a book drive at Christmas and took a field
trip
to the Mazza Gallery at the University of Findlay. This is a gallery of
original artwork for children's books.

I lead the meetings.  I emphasize that we are just an informal group,
reading
for fun.  No pressure, but it helps the discussion if you've read the
book!!(Occasionally we have had some spirited discussions, but not as many
as
I'd like. Some kids just come for the cookies and the companionship, I
think.
But that's OK, too.)  I've also had a poetry group start up as an offshoot
from this group.

This year I'd like to start off each meeting with the students sharing
something that they've read--either a book or just a sentence, paragraph,
etc.
that touched them in some way. I've also set a date (second Wednesday of
each
month) for our meetings.  Hopefully they'll remember to come!  Despite the
morning and afternoon announcements, despite the sign on the library door,
there are still those who "forgot" today was the meeting!  (Last year the
meeting date fluctuated.)

If you have any more questions or need anything clarified, let me know.  I
really enjoy my book and poetry groups.  Good Luck!  Enjoy!! (You've got a
fun
age group to work with.)

Mary Schwab
Library Media Specialist

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