My original post inquired if anyone had started a book club for parents, how
they went about it, and if it was met with success. I received a few
responses I thought I would share. I still don't know if I am going to pursue this
venture or not. But I appreciate the comments of those who responded and will
take their comments into consideration if I do decide to go ahead with it.
Here's the responses I received.
I'm actually in the beginning stages of planning a parent book study on the
title "Parenting Teens with Love and Logic" by Cline and Fay. We're a 5-8
grade publically funded charter school in Huntersville, North Carolina. Even
though our population is middle to upper-middle class, we've found our parents
need and want as much skill training as the parents I worked with in
low-income schools. We'll see how many we get to sign up. I have ABSOLUTELY no
idea how I'm going to proceed. The only thing I've thought about is it would
good to have my plan together by OPEN HOUSE night so I can promote to the mobs
of parents.
I do have a parent book club but it evolved from a parent-child book club
that I sponsored a couple of years ago. In the original book club, 4th and 5th
grade students and at least one significant adult per family read the same
age-appropriate children's book and met monthly to discuss it. We met in the
evening at the library. I had a core group of about 8 families who enjoyed
each other's company so much that they asked to form a parent group. We meet
irregularly in the evening for dinner at a local restaurant (one related to
the book in some way) and book discussion. The group has expanded from the
original members to friends of members and husbands or wives, teachers at school
or, in one case, adult children. We take turns selecting the books and have
become good friends through the process.
As the children of this core group graduated from my school, the program
faltered. The kids at my school would love to continue the program but their
parents are reluctant to commit to the time it would take to read the book and
bring their child to school. No amount of advertising or bribery improved
the situation. The original program died a natural death but I would recommend
it to others looking for parent involvement. I know that a different
community would react differently.
I thought about it and ended up starting a book club for
teachers instead. That has been a boon, we are still
meeting after 5 years and over 150 books. It also gives us
another connection. Book clubs are fun, but by there very
social nature they can become so much more. Think about
doing one with your teachers... especially if you plan on
being at your school for a while. Parents move on. Your
colleagues are with you a lot longer.
Rachel Hinds
Librarian
Carleston Elementary
Pearland, Tx
_mcquita2@aol.com_ (mailto:mcquita2@aol.com)
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