3 Tips for Running Successful Student Led Book Clubs

Have you always wanted to run book clubs in your classroom, but you're just not sure how to set them up, keep your readers accountable, or get your students reading, writing and talking deeply about books?

Are you thinking book clubs are impossible because you don't have sets of books for your students to read?

And how in the world will you get your curriculum standards taught if you're doing book clubs?

Or maybe you're not even sure what book clubs should look and sound like? 

Before you write off book clubs forever, envision your classroom readers excited about choosing books, encouraging each other to finish books, envision them helping each other to build comprehension, keeping each other accountable for writing thoughtful journal responses full of deep thinking.  Envision a community of readers who want to read, not just for you but for their peers and eventually, for themselves!  

It won't happen over night.  But it will happen if you believe!

Tip # 1 - Envision Piles of Book Club Books Everywhere

Let's start by squashing the thought that books clubs are impossible because you don't have access to sets of books.  Log on to scholastic.com right now, register yourself if you don't already have an account and sign up to receive a set of classroom book order flyers.  When they arrive send them home, make a big deal about how Scholastic books are up to 40% off publisher prices and you can't find a better deal anywhere.  

If that doesn't work, remind (beg) your student's parents that every book they buy earns bonus points for your classroom.  These bonus points will buy you your book club sets!!  You won't have to spend a penny.

Or, if you're like me and you can't wait on those bonus points (you can spend them on more book club sets later) scroll down the flyer and find the $1 books! Every month Scholastic offers different dollar books that are quality literature!  This month's choices are: 2nd grade - Stone Fox and The Puppy Place: Mocha, 3rd grade - Black Lagoon #15, 4th grade - Shiloh, 5th grade - Tuck Everlasting and 6th grade -Pictures of Hollis Woods.  

You could buy 5 copies of each of these books and have your first set of book club books in a week - differentiated for all your reading levels - and for only $30!

Did I mention tax write off????

Here's the current set of book club books we're using to analyze character development.

Tip #2 - Envision Your Students Practicing ALL the Standards

Book club books purchased ✅

Now, how in the world will you cover your district's curriculum expectations while also doing book clubs?  There just isn't enough time!!  Or is there?

But seriously, the great thing about teaching the standards is that they can be applied through ANY book!

And book clubs offer the perfect way for your students to authentically practice the standards you need to teach.

All you have to do is make a list of skills your standards cover. Teach each standard as a mini-lesson that the students will apply during reading.  They will write about the skill in their response journal and talk about the skill with their club.  Sound like a lot of work?  I've got you covered! If you're short on time and you're looking for a list of skills that are already compiled, with lesson plans and resources attached, then you need The Complete Guide to Book Clubs for Upper Elementary and Middle School Students.

The Complete Guide to Book Clubs in the Upper Elementary & Middle School Classroom is a 38 page Common Core aligned resource designed to lead your classroom successfully through book clubs from start to finish. 

This resource will work with ALL novels. Get your students self-selecting books, creating a weekly schedule, reading daily and writing responses, working within a book club of students to construct meaning (based on the common core standards), rating, summarizing, and recommending quality literature.

Tip #3 - Envision Thoughtful Discussions and Journal Responses

Books bought ✅
Lesson plans done ✅

What next?

How do your students magically start writing and responding to their reading with thoughtful discussions and journal prompts?  Well it's not magic. But it is peer pressure. The good kind.

When your readers stop performing for you and have choice over the books they read, scheduling their assignments, choosing their response prompts, and leading their meetings; they start caring about being a contributing member of a group. And that caring rubs off and builds real readers who truly enjoy sharing books and their thinking with others.

One way we model what thoughtful book clubs should look and sound like is through fish bowl meetings.  I randomly select a group of the day and they hold their meeting in front of the class while the rest of us observe.  I love sitting back and watching my readers shine during a fish bowl meeting and my other readers get so much out of seeing a book club at its best.  We talk about what went really well and what needs more practice and then the remaining clubs head off to have their own meetings and to apply what they just learned from the fish bowl meeting.

You can grab this fish bowl recording sheet and MORE in The Complete Guide to Book Clubs for Upper Elementary and Middle School Students.

I hope the 3 tips I've shared with you have alleviated your worries and have left you thinking, "Why didn't I start book clubs sooner?"

Why do I care so much? Because book clubs are my happy place.  Seriously.  The choice, autonomy, self-direction, motivation and authenticity of student-led book clubs make my teacher heart smile.