I requested information a couple of weeks back about starting a high school
book club. Most of my replys were requests for hits. Here is some of the
information I received as well as some stuff I found in the archives. IF
anyone has anything else to add I would be happy to post a second hit.
I started a middle/high school book club last year. This was a regular
school club that met in the library (we call it information center) every other
week during lunch. Our initial discussion was on Harry Potter as most have
read those, then we set up a system that alternated between a book of each
person's choice and a book that we all agreed on. So, from Harry Potter we did
individual book talks on books we had read and enjoyed, then we did the book
Eragon, then books we had read and enjoyed, then Gingerbread, then books we
had read and enjoyed.... We had several copies of the books Eragon and
Gingerbread, but I gave students enough notice that they could read one of our
copies or a copy from the post library. We had about twenty students each time
and never seemed to have a problem with book supply.
When my book club started, I had three participants. These kids were
avid readers. I put up posters announcing the book club, the where,
when, etc. Also had it in the daily announcements several days before
we met. I found the best advertisement was the kids talking about it
and encouraging their friends. When I first started, we tried meeting
after school. With all the other extracurricular, there was too much
competition. I moved it to the lunch periods. We now average 22
students per book. At the beginning, we only met 4 or 5 times a
school year. Now we meet every month. I only do paperbacks, and Yes,
the library supplies them. The kids come into the library to sign up
for the next book and receive their copy at that time. When they sign
up, I make it clear to them that they are then expected to attend the
discussion. Because it is during the lunch periods, the kids all
bring their own food, so I don't provide any goodies. We do however
have a pizza party on
our last day. I am sure there are a lot of good ideas out there on
making this a success. If you get a chance, please share. There is
always room for improvement. :) Hope this helps! It takes a while to
get established and develop a main core of faithful students. Don't
give up!
We have done a quarterly "club" in the past. Now we're getting ready to
start a monthly "club" instead in hopes of hitting more readers. Teachers
choose different titles, then the students choose from those.
I try to have a copy or two available in the library, but I also make the
cheapest copies I can find available for purchase. Most students buy their own
copies that way--either that or they go to the bookstore themselves.
Good luck as you start! We've had a ball with it and the teachers are
willing to give credit for participation, so that's helped a lot.
******************************************************************************
*******
From the Archives
I have two book clubs, one for 6th graders and one for 7th and 8th graders.
Here
are some things you may want to try for your book club:
1. Have refreshments at each meeting
2. Make sure you have enough copies for each child
3. Start out with a funny book or one with characters you think your
students will
relate to
4. Have fun and take book club time to get to know about the students
5. Use the book IF to generate some discussions to help get to know the
students
--good luck!!
I am a media specialist in an inner city high school and I started a Boys
book club
and girls book club separate with having students reading Walter Dean Myers
books
such as Monster, Slam, Hoops for the boys and the girls started with Sharon
Flack,
The Skin I'm In and Money Hungry. I hooked them with those books because
the
characters were people they could relate to. I also served snacks such as
soda or
juice and chips, donuts etc. The rules were what was discussed in the book
club
stayed in the book club. This way everyone felt they could speak freely.
These
were great book for the reluctant readers. Once you get them hooked the
rest is
easy.
Will add my two cents worth. I started my book club three years ago, with
three
girls attending. Held it after school and no matter how I had tried to
avoid all
the sports/music/forensic/chess/etc. meetings, it wasn't successful from the
numbers stand point. The kids were great and encouraged me to keep going.
Last
year was better. I moved it to a lunch time discussion which meant that we
meet
during the students lunch periods. They bring their lunch and their copy of
the
book, and we eat and discuss. I usually have some questions thought out
ahead of
time to get the ball rolling. Last year I was pretty successful with 10-12
students meeting three times during the year. I try to pick a variety of
books,
some sci-fi, some adventure, some mystery. The kids seem to like the darker
contempory books. A big hit last year was Shattering Glass by Gail Giles.
Generated a lot of discussion. Had to monitor the discussions as some kept
talking, not giving others a chance.
I have had several book clubs at different levels. I look at it as a
club for anyone who wants to come. We meet once a month after school -
I provide a snack...Next Monday we are planning for apple slices and
caramel.
To get started I talked to students till I found two or three who were
interested in being in the club. I made it very clear that this is
their book club. The students and I decide when we should have our
first meeting and they make signs and banners to advertise it. I also
send out information sheets to all the homerooms (we have advisor time
every day).
The first meeting people bring books to pitch and we decide on our
first
book. My only "rule" is the books have to be available in paper back.
I buy 10 copies and we all share them. After we are done with the
books, students can purchase any of the books for 1/2 the cover price.
I put a couple of each title in my collection, then if there are any
left, we donate them to classroom collections.
A few random thoughts:
I fund this book club from out book fair.
For discussion questions, I search internet sites to find suggestions.
We have an "elastic" membership based on sports, drama, and other
activities that the students also belong to - also dependent on the
book
choice. While I encourage everyone to read every book choice, some of
the guys don't want to read "girly" books. I just make sure they know
the next choice.
Arlene Laverde
_Arlverde1@aol.com_ (mailto:Arlverde1@aol.com)
Librarain
Brooklyn, NY
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