Gearing Up for Book Clubs

I love book clubs!  How much more authentic can you get? 

During book clubs my kiddos are reading, thinking, responding, discussing, arguing, and acting as readers do in the "real world."  My fifth graders beg to do book clubs all year long.  They love sharing their thoughts about books with friends. 

I try my best to squeeze in a session of book clubs in between each of our units.  And, it's that time again.  We just finished a nonfiction reading unit, so we're heading back to fiction for a short time (historical fiction to be exact) right when we return from break!

Another reason I love book clubs is because my students are so self directed during this time. 

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 I've chosen.  

Also, once you get books clubs rolling with a few mini-lessons about how to work in groups, what books clubs should "look" and "sound" like, how to be a good listener, procedures and expectations, the rest of the sessions run themselves.  I just monitor, assist and confer!  It's a beautiful thing.

I love nothing more than watching my students in action, while I'm in the back seat!! That makes for one happy teacher!

Also during book clubs, I assess my students' understanding and application of the daily learning targets with exit slips in their reading response journals.  These quick formative assessments show me what each student is "thinking" while they are reading their book club selections.

So, if you're intrigued and want to try out book clubs or using exit slips during Reader's Workshop, OR if you already love book clubs/exit slips but are looking for some organizational assistance - maybe these resources will help you out -

Reading Exit Slips - HUGE Bundle

Do you want your students reading with purpose and accountability? If so, this year long BUNDLE of 200+ reading exit tickets is for you! These response prompts can be printed and used in reading response journals or used digitally for distance learning in Google Classroom. This resource includes both printable and digital versions.

This BUNDLE contains all four of my reading exit slip resources - Launching Reading Workshop, Character Study, Historical Fiction and Informational Reading.

Bringing closure to your reading workshop is an essential piece of formative instruction!

Complete Guide to Book Clubs in the Upper Elementary & Middle School Classroom. 

It's a 38 page resource, common core aligned, that includes EVERYTHING needed for book clubs (4th-8th grades) and it works with ALL novels.  All you need is the books!  

This resource includes four weeks of lesson plans, formative assessments, student response journal, response journal prompt choices, group rating guide, fishbowl observation sheet, club captain recording sheet, summary graphic organizer, draft sheet and rubric, book recommendation organizer, draft sheet and rubric, and more!