I’ve been in a lot of book clubs, and I know it’s not always easy to get a conversation going on a book. The questions presented here are applicable to any type of book or genre, including fiction, literature, historical novels, plays, children's books, or short stories. What do you think of the book’s title? A Teaching Perspective by Joan Saunders 1. My class is a group of very verbal kids (and then some not so verbal kids). In it they list some of the benefits of book clubs in the classroom: Book clubs: Promote a love for literature and a positive attitude towards reading; Reflect a student-centered model of literacy (employing the Gradual Some of the rules may seem like common sense but making sure everyone is on the same page helps avoid unnecessary conflict.Having established rules can be especially important if you are starting a book club that's open to the general public. 2. I have put together a list of 10 book club discussion questions that will work for any book, and still encourage lively and engaging conversation. What do you think of the book’s cover? Available Copies of Books 7. Most of these are non-specific, designed to work for any book, (although, of course, some will work better than others for particular books). If the book has been published with different covers, which one do you like best? 39. Well, we had a short after school PD session on Guided Reading for K-8 yesterday, and it got me thinking about how I’m doing things in this book club and what they are actually getting out of it. Book Club Discussions: Moving Beyond the Text To Make Meaningful Connections. I asked them to give me honest feedback about using the signposts as springboards for discussion during the meetings. Place the characters in today's culture—and invent a new life. 40. Posted in Book Club, Freebies, Literacy, Middle School, Professional Reading. Don't worry! Next up for the group is When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. 34. Students love them! Book clubs for middle school and high school have become the new version of literature circles. Create a book group playlist together! can railroad the entire discussion into a prolonged analysis of their dating life, their blog, whether they should get bangs… (There’s one in every book club.) How would you feel to have been depicted in this way? How does it relate to the book’s contents? 8. Classroom book clubs traditionally involve student-led discussions about books, but often teachers feel that these clubs need more direction and accountability. Was it easy to see where the author got his or her information? At your first book club meeting, or whenever new people join your reading group, it's good to spend a bit of time getting to know each other. Why do you think the author chose to tell this story? Some of these are the best book club books from my own book clubs over the years and others are ones I WISH my book club had read. I have been struggling with one thing, which is getting students to discuss their novels in a meaningful way, without my prompting. How well do you think the author built the world in the book? This is the fourth installment in a series of posts with ideas and suggestions for running effective literacy circles or book clubs with students from second grade through high school. 3. However, without my prompting, I am listening to very basic comprehension types of statements without any real excitement! What songs does this book make you think of? During book club discussions, students refer to their notes on these questions and their prepared task, along with conversational moves I’ve provided to ensure a thoughtful, civil discussion. Basically, after reading the section of our read aloud text, a few student volunteers and I had a conversation in front of the class about what had happened. Thanks for visiting my blog! My class is a group of very verbal kids (and then some not so verbal kids). 11. Were the sources credible? Why or why not? I’m really hoping that it’s going to put some spark into their book club discussions. This post is the first in a three-part series about how to run a book club in your classroom. The group highly recommends both books. Classroom book clubs traditionally involve student-led discussions about books, but often teachers feel that these clubs need more direction and accountability. Theme: Mystique by digitalnature. 36. What aspects of the author’s story could you most relate to? 19. How does the epilogue bring the story to a satisfying end? What gaps do you wish the author had filled in? What feelings did this book evoke for you? 4. 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