Hello all,
Here are the responses I got to my inquiry about a high school reading club.
Thanks to all who responded! I got some great feedback, and answers I really
needed. We have our first meeting on Wed. after school.
Carol
Hi! I have three reading clubs, one for each lunch period. We meet 2x a month and
the students bring their lunch and we eat and talk about books. We have all read
the same book this year, we've read the same author and sometimes we read the same
genre. At the last meeting, a romance writer came and talked about getting
published and the writing process. Next month we are doing an audio book. I have
found that I have to be very flexible, attendance is sporadic. I do provide
dessert- usually cookies for everyone. This year a male teacher who is getting his
MLS is running the 8th lunch group for me.
I have had a book club for 3 years and have done it different ways.
The first year I had everyone read the same book at the same time
and varied genres. We did fantasy, biography (that one I let them
pick the person and everyone read a different book), fiction, non-
fiction information, etc.
The second year, we read two books at a time and I let the
students pick. When we meet, I usually do book talks on about 10
books and they usually pick from them.
This year we are reading about 4 books each time (once a month)
mainly because I have about 20 students in the club. The main
reason for the success of the club is probably that I feed them.
I got a grant from a local business for $2,000 for "Books and
Brunch" and that has been carrying me through.
I purchase each student the book they will read, then they are
encouraged to give it to someone who will read it with the
understanding that that person will pass it on.
We meet during both block of the lunch period meaning that
students get out of part of a class.
Hi! They are a pretty enthusiastic group, there are students from 9-12 grade. We go
around the table and everyone gets a chance to speak. Usually deciding what we want
to do the next month is easy, someone always has an opinion. If we get more than
one opinion we vote. I always come wit a stack of preselected books and sometimes I
guide the discussion. Time usually runs out before we have accomplished everything.
I've made it no stress, drop in, drop out.
My group, the Bibliophiles, meets twice a month and read according to
genre - everyone chooses a book they want to read within that genre. We are
also sponsoring a study group (with snacks) during finals, are collecting
books for charity, and participating in a "fair" for the 8th grade tours to
the high school
Usually when the students get the books I give them a handout
with discussion questions or information I have gotten off of the
WWW. If the author has a site, I give them that, etc.
I have some generic questions for biographies and fiction if I can't
find the info on the web.
During the meeting, I try to let students lead the discussion, but
sometimes I have to ask leading questions. Generally, after the
first book of the year, students are pretty willing to discuss. It just
takes getting them into the groove.
Today I am having a meeting with 22 students signed up. That is
really too many, but we will be discussing 4 or 5 books so I will
have each group tell the others about their book. Generally, then
they want to read each others' books.
Our Community library has a program "One Community, One
Book" this year so I think I am going to try to get the club to read
the book SHE WALKS THESE HILLS. The author will be in town
in April and I would like to plan an activity where we get to see her.
Some books they have liked are:
FREE RADICAL
THE LAST JUROR
Anything by Nicholas Sparks - we compared WALK TO
REMEMBER to the movie-watched the movie at lunch
FIRST PART LAST
They really liked ONE OF THOSE HIDEOUS BOOKS WHERE
THE MOTHER DIES (I liked that one too)
Good luck to you! I started my reading club two years ago with three
students. At our last gathering we had 17! I think you are off to a
good start for the first one. After that, I picked the books, asking
the kids for their input. Trouble is, you have the sci-fi people
always picking sci-fi, horror horror, etc., so I pick. There should
be a list in the archives as we shared that info earlier. Our library
picks up the tab, with the understanding that if you sign up and take
a copy, you will read the book and attend the discussion. What really
works slick is if you can have copies of your next book at the
discussion. Most of the kids will automatically sign up. We meet
during lunch, as the kids here have way too many things going on after
school. Sometimes that is not enough time as we get into some good
discussions. The kids bring their lunches and books, and we eat and
talk. I "advertise" in our announcements, posters around school, and
by word of mouth. I don't know if I gave you too much info, or not
enough. If I can be of further service, let me know. There are
others out there who have had theirs going for a lot longer and will
probably give you great advice. Happy reading!
We have a similar club at my HS although we call it a book club. We meet on the
first and third Friday of each month during lunch. Because the reading tastes are
so diverse, we decided not to all read the same book. Most of the time meetings are
more of a social gathering during which we have lunch (I usually bring cookies,
candy, or something like that.) and talk about what we have read and enjoyed. When
I get new books in the library, they are the first ones to know about them, and I
often let them take books home before they are even catalogued just by signing a
sheet of paper. Last Friday, we took a field trip to the Grand Rapids Public
Library which was recently totally renovated. Although my school is located in an
area of this city, most of the students had never been to this library before. It
is a relatively low SES district. We took a city bus, another thing many had never
done. They just loved it. Last year in the spring we had a culminating activity
where we creat
ed a scrap book for the club. Each member made a page about herself (last year we
had all female members. Not so this year.) I took their pictures with a digital
camera and printed copies of everyone for their pages. Along with their personal
pages, they each did at least one page about a favorite book. We had pizza and
played a video while we created the book. They seemed to enjoy that as well. We
have talked about having "high tea" for the teachers but have not actually made any
plans for that yet. Make sure you get a group picture for your school yearbook.
Make it an official club. I took my group's picture with my Winn Dixie standee.
Good luck.
--
Carol Dostal
Library Media Specialist
Columbus High School
Columbus, NE 68601
cdostal@esu7.org
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