However, without my prompting, I am listening to very basic comprehension types of statements without any real excitement! 1. Middle School Book Discussion w/ Author Rebecca Behrens. Find a printable list to bring to your meeting here! How did they compare to this book? Why or why not? Which short story/essay did you like best? If you’re ready to start a book club, here’s 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction and nonfiction alike. Some kids will NEVER read and will NEVER do their book club work or homework. If you were to write fanfic about this book, what kind of story would you want to tell? I struggle to shut them up ( you know what I mean) on a good day, having to ask them to put their hands down because we’ll just never get to finish the lesson (sometimes their connections are not always on topic and once that train falls off the rails…). Update a character or two from a book set in the past. You can read the others in this series here. Toward the end of class, students have time to reflect on the discussion, set future goals, and decide how many pages to read before their next discussion. 33. -Students have “Guidelines for Book Club” to encourage listening and making sure that everyone has a chance to speak. What aspects of the author’s story could you most relate to? If you could hear this same story from another person’s point of view, who would you choose? Don't worry! I first discovered this topic after seeing teacher-author Penny Kittle speak about them at the Reading For The Love Of It literacy conference in Toronto last February. The one that I plan to us is the video modelling what a book club discussion is supposed to look like – with real students discussing a real text. Our Middle School Book Club took advantage of additional free time over the holiday break to read two books! 15. Do you think any of the stories could be expanded into a full-length book? Why did this quote stand out? Which places in the book would you most like to visit? Oct 12, 2018 - How to start and run elementary school book clubs. Simply put, I’ve assembled a list of the kinds of questions that are likely to get people talking. Available Copies of Books Just pick and choose the discussion questions that work best for you and your book group, and get the conversation going! All library book discussion groups meet in the library’s Conference Room (unless otherwise noted) and light refreshments are usually served. Example: Lydia Bennett (Pride & Prejudice) considers Cosmo great literature and Sex & the City serious drama. They seem to be enjoying their novels and I know that they’re engaged in the read aloud text: Firegirl. Which characters in the book did you like best? I read the chapter on book clubs and got a couple of great ideas from it. This post is the first in a three-part series about how to run a book club in your classroom. Were the sources credible? Even if you do have a reading guide, these questions will still help engage your book club members and provide great conversation starters. Their latest book club discussions included: The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne and Out of My Mind by Sharon M. Draper. Tags: book club discussions, firegirl, middle school book club, middle school book clubs, starting a book club. Ugghhh…What was I thinking? Click on the "About Me" tab to learn more about me! What other books by this author have you read? 17. Book clubs are fun. Students are struggling to keep the conversation going for more than 5 or 10 minutes in their book clubs, after their assigned reading. Students complete collaborative homework using a class wiki. Were there points where you thought he shared too much? What other strategies can I try, to make the second half of this book club more engaging than the first? Now I won’t be too hard on them (or me, I guess). 10. Each month the group chooses a new book … Download all of these in an easy book club printable here. Jan 5. 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. If too short, what would you add? What other title might you choose? What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book? When I realized that this was going to be a struggle (after the first book club meeting) I modelled a conversation for the class. Students love them! The second post details how to establish expectations and create a schedule, and the third post discusses accountability and assessment procedures.. Oh, one other idea that I got from the book was to have students use a “think mark” – basically just a folded piece of paper – to write ideas down as they come across things in their reading. Would you read another book by this author? Did they remind you of anyone? They are finding it difficult to break away from taking turns, …I talk…then you talk…then you… rather than having a conversation. How to find the best book club books While you occasionally want to read the hot new bestseller with your book club, the truth is that a lot people just cannot afford to buy new hardbacks all the time. Students read sections of their book and use a Critical Thinking Mapto then guide group discussions about prominent social issues. I’m ready and listening…share your wisdom…please! 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. If the book has been published with different covers, which one do you like best? 3. Choice of the book to read b. 2. Create a book group playlist together! 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. What feelings did this book evoke for you? 35. Students vary the length of their book clubs depending on what their self-chosen topic of discussion is and figure out how their group works best in the process. What do you think of the book’s title? 4. Join LiveGirl for our virtual April book club discussion featuring bestselling author, Rebecca Behrens. Book clubs in school represent a more authentic and organic means of literary study because they are more student-directed whereas literature circles are more teacher-directed. What other books did this remind you of? 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 Recent literacy research has revealed that choice is the key ingredient in a successful reading program, especially for reluctant readers. What else have you read on this topic, and would you recommend these books to others? By far, having book clubs or literature circles using reading signposts in middle school ELA has worked wonders. So we’re about half way through our book club and things are going okay. 11. How original and unique was this book? They seem to be enjoying their novels and I know that they’re engaged in the read aloud text: I talked to our presenter after the session about the conversation dilemma and she actually directed me toward a great resource that our school has: Teaching and Comprehending Fluency: Thinking, Talking and Writing about Reading (with DVD). Bring the printable questions along for help. 25. Posted in Book Club, Freebies, Literacy, Middle School, Professional Reading, Tags: book club discussions, firegirl, middle school book club, middle school book clubs, starting a book club. Advance registration is required for the Middle School Book Club. When you're starting a book club it helps to set some ground rules to help ensure that all of your attendees feel welcome and want to return. 31. What songs does this book make you think of? 7. Was it easy to see where the author got his or her information? Then, this is one of the main items on the discussion agenda during the meetings. It’s sad. Now: Students are still given time every day to either read or discuss, they need to discuss every third day for sure and they can decide how long they want their discussions to last. I asked them to give me honest feedback about using the signposts as springboards for discussion during the meetings. Check out this guide with FREE resources for book club success! My class is a group of very verbal kids (and then some not so verbal kids). 13. I guess maybe I was a little naive, as this is my first book club. All this time is being spent on the book club and the real meat of the club – talking about what they’re reading – is falling flat. If prompted, they can come up with all sorts of ideas, connections and predictions. 24. 36. Did the book’s pace seem too fast/too slow/just right? The Giver is a wonderful middle and high school level novel that invokes tons of in-depth discussion and raises thought provoking questions about a life without memories, feelings or pain, a life of sameness and predictability and how that might be better or worse than the life we live.. If you got the chance to ask the author of this book one question, what would it be? Lessons, Activities and Ideas For You Amazing Middle School Teachers. Did the characters seem believable to you? 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. 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’ve found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are open-ended and that get people to share their personal opinions. If it’s too long, what would you cut? Classroom book clubs traditionally involve student-led discussions about books, but often teachers feel that these clubs need more direction and accountability. Book clubs give students choice: a. Next up for the group is When you Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. 18. So, help me out! Uncharted Territory…Starting My First Book Club (and an Amazing Giveaway!) 2. What gaps do you wish the author had filled in? I tried to model what the dicussion should look like, asking questions, building meaning etc. Why DO Book Clubs in High School? Thanks for visiting my blog! Her eyes are always peeled for Mr. Big. 9 Comments. I have two cardinal rules in selecting the best book club books: choose mostly books available in paperback and pick books that will foster great discussion. I have been struggling with one thing, which is getting students to discuss their novels in a meaningful way, without my prompting. It’s hard to strike a balance between questions that are open-ended and inclusive, but not so broad that certain members (ahem!) 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. They can mark page numbers down, predictions, opinions, wonderings, words they don’t understand etc. There have been some glimmers during their conversations, I just find that given the students I have – I expected more! I just thought they’d dive in, like on Oprah and divulge their thoughts and wonderings, building elegantly on one another’s ideas. Book Club Discussions: Moving Beyond the Text To Make Meaningful Connections. 39. 6. What did you like best about this book? 37. Choice of book club style c. Choice of what to talk about in the book club meeting d. In this lesson, students in grades 7 and 8 form literature circle groups and read either Esperanza Rising or Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Muñoz Ryan. I’m completely open to your ideas! 9. -Students are already expected to have a Reader Response ready and topic of discussion for the book club meeting (completed after they read). Book clubs for middle school and high school have become the new version of literature circles. I’ve also included a few questions that are meant for specific types of books, like fiction or nonfiction. I’m going to try this one tomorrow. The perfect book club is made up of three key things: a great reading selection, yummy snacks, and a lively discussion. 16. I talked to our presenter after the session about the conversation dilemma and she actually directed me toward a great resource that our school has: Teaching and Comprehending Fluency: Thinking, Talking and Writing about Reading (with DVD). Middle School Book Club Questions Goodbye Stranger by Rebecca Stead The prologue and epilogue are the “before” and “after” of the story. If you were making a movie of this book, who would you cast? Why do you think the author chose to tell this story? What ideas was he or she trying to get across? What Changes/Decisions Would You Hope For If The Book Were Turned Into A Movie? 12. 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. I can’t wait to show it to my students and see what they have to say about it, especially in comparison to their own groups. 8. Place the characters in today's culture—and invent a new life. Most of these are non-specific, designed to work for any book, (although, of course, some will work better than others for particular books). 21. 27. What did you already know about this book’s subject before you read this book? 19. How would you feel to have been depicted in this way? How well do you think the author built the world in the book? 38. 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. The DVD that comes with the book has lots of other resources on it as well! During one of our weekly #2ndaryELA Twitter chats, we discussed Online Student Book Clubs. 40. What did you like least about this book? Or they will pretend and make up the reading and/or homework. Proudly powered by WordPress. Book clubs are an excellent teaching and literacy strategy 2. A Teaching Perspective by Joan Saunders 1. I’ve found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are open-ended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Share a favorite quote from the book. Oh, the quest for the right book club questions! My students agreed. Which character in the book would you most like to meet? 20. 30. Posted in Book Club, Freebies, Literacy, Middle School, Professional Reading. Please call 703-248-5034 (TTY 711) or stop by the Youth Services Desk for more information. In middle school, sometimes it hasn’t been until second semester, simply because I’ve had to wait until a point I thought they could handle it, and a point where I thought I could manage it. What did you think of the book’s length? This list of book club books has non-fiction, chick-lit, young adult and middle grade titles, history books and parenting books. How honest do you think the author was being? There are new titles and ones that are bit older. In this lesson, students in grades 7 and 8 form literature circle groups and read either Esperanza Rising or Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Muñoz Ryan. How do they tie together? 34. How does it relate to the book’s contents? How does the epilogue bring the story to a satisfying end? 3. 26. Which short story/essay did you like least? I’m really hoping that it’s going to put some spark into their book club discussions. 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. How well does it convey what the book is about? So we’re about half way through our book club and things are going okay. 23. And, I’m going to try the think mark idea tomorrow. The questions allow students to explore plot, character, structure, conflict and other important literary concepts. 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. -Showing them the DVD of the book club discussion as a model and talk about what the students are doing well. NYC’s District 75 published their Middle School Units of Study, Developing Autonomy when Engaging with Literature, online. What artist would you choose to illustrate this book? Theme: Mystique by digitalnature. What kinds of illustrations would you include? 14. Think about the other people in the book besides the author. 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. 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.) and then take those to book club to use as they discuss. The Giver Book Discussion and Color Less Activity. What similarities do these stories share? Explain why the information in the prologue is necessary to Bridge’s story. It was a start – but just not enough! Groups jo… She hits the clubs, wears designer knock-offs and has Big Hair. Thursday, April 16, 2020; 4:00 PM 5:00 PM 16:00 17:00; Google Calendar ICS; View fullsize. What do you think of the book’s cover? Book Club Discussion Questions October 20, 2015 By Sheila 7 Comments While it’s always helpful if you can find reading guides for the precise title your book club is reading, sometimes they’re not available. 32. Actress and activist Emma Watson runs Our Shared Shelf, a feminist book club with over 100,000 members. Tags: book club discussions, firegirl, middle school book club, middle school book clubs, starting a book club Her discussion prompted me to go back to my classroom and try out this strategy with my two Grade 8 classes. Classroom book clubs traditionally involve student-led discussions about books, but often teachers feel that these clubs need more direction and accountability. See more ideas about book club books, school reading, reading workshop. 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