One of the best days I’ve had since my book came out was a visit with a student book club at a local high school. The students hashed out the topics and themes in the book, debated several issues, critiqued the writing, and drew parallels from the book to their own lives.
Reading is a solitary pleasure, but it doesn’t have to stay solitary. Seeing those teens engage with my book made me wish that more students could have this opportunity–to discuss a book from many angles, to go beyond classroom lessons.
Here are some things to think about if you’d like to start a student book club:
Who chooses the books? What will the selection criteria and the selection process be? The books could be chosen by adults: the school librarian, a committee of English teachers, a teacher-parent committee. Or they could be chosen by students: the club president, a committee, any student who cares to nominate a book, or a vote of the students. Or they could be selected by a combined committee of students and adults.
How will you get the books? It may be possible for the school or library to order copies for the students, but then again, it may not, depending on budget constraints. Local bookstores will often offer discounts to schools that purchase books in bulk; this is something to look into. Students may also decide to work out a book-sharing program where the club purchases a certain number of books, and students pass them around.
Who will lead/facilitate the group? It’s a good idea to have someone start the discussion, pose a few questions, keep an eye on the time, and make sure that no single person dominates the discussion. The leader may be an adult or a student; it may be the same person each time, or a rotating responsibility.
What are the group’s ground rules? Some decisions for groups to make: Whether to go around and give everyone a chance to speak, or whether to solicit comments on a volunteer basis. What the leader or facilitator’s role is. How to introduce new members to the group. How to ensure mutual respect in discussions, and how to handle disagreements. Whether attendance is required or optional. Whether to serve refreshments and, if so, who is responsible for getting them. Also: Logistical decisions of how often to meet, where, and when.
Do you want to have special activities? Field trips, guest speakers (e.g., authors, whether in person or via online contact), parties, theme discussions (e.g., multicultural books, historical fiction, verse novels, dystopias, etc.), and special projects (e.g., design your own book cover, dress as your favorite character) are all possibilities. At the club I visited, several students came up with a game in which they named the literary character they would most like to have as a friend.
Happy reading!
Comments
1 Natalie Aguirre // May 17, 2010 at 5:43 pm
Great ideas to think about in starting a book club. I wish I didn’t work till 5:00 or I’d try to start one.
2 Jennifer Hubbard // May 24, 2010 at 5:45 pm
How about a virtual one?
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