How to start a book club for elementary students kids book club. These guidelines are based on the ten developmental principles that guide training and racing for young distance runners outlined in the book training for young distance runners written by larry greene, phd and russ pate, phd, published by human kinetics. How to start a book club that doesnt suck book riot. The lunch bunch book club is a program that can be held in a school library or in a classroom. But, when i started book clubs a few years ago i made some big mistakes. The student book club guide includes a pdf handout to get students andor parents started in creating, organizing and loving their book club. Even if you start with a core of 3 or 4 readers, the club will need avid child readers who. Books for an elementary level book club my good friend and neighbordownthestreet hosts a twicemonthly book club for her two elementary students and my two. We have our book club on the first monday of every month. The classroom book clubs method is more relaxed and less structured than many forms of literature circles, and its flexibility makes it more adaptable to a variety of classrooms and students. The running club is a beforeschool exercise program for our 1st through 5th grade students. Students can go into their book club groups with a toolbox paper, highlighter, pen, templates for discussion and you can help them add tools along the way.
Explore options for setting up and running a book club. From book themed activities to printable discussion questions to interviews with the authors, youll find plenty of inspiration for a. To help you make sure your book club is on point, here is a short guide about how to start a book club to help you make yours perfect. How to start a book club for elementary students wehavekids. Books clubs are a fun way for kids to get a deeper understanding of a book and learn. Opening the book is a site designed for book professionals and supplies tool packs for book clubs and courses in running groups. The number one principle in starting and coordinating a club at the elementary school level is to have fun. Most of our projects occur during the school day, so students must be on top of their classroom work responsibilities in order to complete their yearbook assignments. How to start a book club for elementary students kids.
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. Just choose the participation level thats appropriate for the age level, says kris cannon, a former elementary school teacher and currently the librarian at mills high school in california, where she has started several lunchtime book clubs for high school students. Whether your childs a bookworm or a struggling reader, sharing a book with others is way more fun than reading solo. The club begins meeting in the spring of each school year. Email the parents and children from your childs grade to see. Looking for a fun way to enjoy books and meet new people. This way, you can set the tone for how future book clubs will be run theres a sample email attached at the bottom of the hub. Book clubs are a great way to engage students with reading and help build a reading culture at your school. Welcome to brightlys book club for kids, where we encourage young readers to discover great books, share new stories, explore important topics, and have some bookish fun.
Book clubs have come back as a popular way to allow readers to discuss books in an informal setting. Book clubs services to schools national library of new zealand. They read the same book, then gather to talk about the characters and. Since they choose the books, determine their reading schedule, and pick their nightly response prompt with guidelines of course they enjoy the autonomy and their participation is much more avid than during times of the year when they are reading texts ive chosen. As stated in previous sections of this series, mini lessons are not a necessary part of literacy circles book clubs. Starting one yourself is easy to do and simple to maintain. The road runners club of america promotes the following guidelines for youth running. Fundamentals of youth running road runners club of america. These will be 5 or 10 minutes at the most so that students can have high quality, intense discussions, not drawn out conversations where they are not sure what they should discuss next.
Teachers who have used this method find that their students enjoy the social aspects of reading and discussing books. Some clubs meet online, many meet inperson either in homes or public places such as a library, bookstore or cafe. This will also help create a sense of urgency and excitement. A voluntary book club for students i love this idea. Chandler has been a member of a bunch of them and has some tips for you and your book club. Not everyone can finish every book, but nonreaders may still have valuable insights.
Having socialmedia like conversations about our books gives students that space. Look for book club guides that you can tweak for your students. Whether youre a school librarian or a teacher, allowing time for. A book club for kids is one of the best ways to combine learning and fun.
You will love the selfdirection, motivation, and authentic reading, writing, and responding to literature that book clubs will bring to your classroom. How to start a book club for kids pbs kids for parents. Reading book clubs a what to do and what not to do. Brush up on your netiquette, and post meeting reminders for your book club, discuss whos bringing what snacks or simply encourage each other to read the assigned chapters. Staff members of the elementary yearbook club work on projects throughout the year that involve activities of a journalistic nature. The program is held tuesdays and thursdays before school starts. Plus, you get to join in on the jogging and walking, so your fitness levels get a boost too. Your guide to starting a book club in your school oxford education. Minilessons that support effective book clubs center. Its more fun to read the same book with your buddies, which is why book clubs are especially great for reluctant readers.
Book clubs are the perfect way to get your readers reading. Children can enjoy the same kind of communitybuilding experience by meeting with friends to choose, read, and discuss books together. A book club sometimes called a reading group or book group is a group of people who get together on a regular basis to discuss books. Our blackwell running club offers a wonderful opportunity for students to work on their cardiovascular fitness by accumulating miles run or walked around the school building.
Since some kids will be faster than others, look for both a short and a long loop. How to run a fullchoice book club in your classroom. If the group is held in a classroom, throw down a reading rug and some bean bag chairs. Here are some details to consider while building a community of readers.
Book clubs build community in the classroom, get students excited about reading, and break up the daytoday routine. Find ideas for discussions and activities your book club will enjoy. As an elementary school media specialist, ive been running 4th and 5th grade afterschool book clubs for about ten years. Improve your childs reading success with an understanding of this key teaching method. Students will sit together in their clubs even when it is not a book club day. Book club for kids discussion questions, reading guide. Grab some gloves, tools, and seeds, and get digging with your students. A few startup tips from vicki levy krupp, coauthor of the kids book club book.
Different book clubs will need different amounts of adult supervision, so provide guidance but dont be afraid to step back and let them run the show. Chatterbooks clubs are run by library staff, teachers, teaching assistants and volunteers people who are passionate about reading. Help schoolagers add more activity to their day with an afterschool kids running club. Once your club is up and running, you can use the message boards to create an online component to your club. This product will help you start a lunchtime book club that meets for minutes and just lets students enjoy reading without the pressures of assessment. Starting a book club can be an intimidating endeavor. How to start a book club for elementary students step 1. Students also love to learn about authors, so consider finding out a little background information for them before handing out books for the next reading cycle. We do about 7 minutes of stretching before running. My primary goal for book club is to create a culture of reading among my students. See more ideas about book club books, library lessons and library programs.
There are so many reasons to be part of a book club. Classroom libraries are a beautiful thing, but in order to effectively run a book club, you need more than a classroom library can provide, unless you are limiting students choices to a certain list of options. I was looking for fresh book ideas when i found your site. I have grown my classroom library over a long period of time. Another reason i love book clubs is because my students are so self directed during this time. Book clubs for kids basically, the purpose of a book club for kids is twofold. In fact, differing opinions make the best discussions. There is never any one way to experience or interpret a book. Your students will love the choice and autonomy of book clubs.
If your school has a large property, or youll be meeting during the school day, do laps around the edge. Where you hold your book club is really important for elementary school students. But there is more to starting a book club than you might think. For after school, map out a safe route along local streets. Running an elementary book club combine reading with fun in order to create lifelong, literaryminded learners who love to read. Running club is held on mondays and thursdays after school starting in the gym. If the group meets in the library, make it a club corner where there are comfy chairs to sit in or a place for the kids to lie down on their stomachs and stretch out on pillows. Younger kids kindergarten and 1st grade can do a mile walk or run. Give your students a positive and worthwhile first experience with extracurricular involvement. Use our ideas to help you organize your book club activities, hold good discussions, and settle tough issues. A prime motivator, especially for secondary students, is social interaction. Instead of doing literature as a separate subject with the exception of studying shakespeare, our elementary kids have a twicemonthly book club that they love. Joining or starting book clubs is one of the best ideas to get your kids reading. For instance, if you want to run a mother and daughter reading group, it may be likely that this happens.