Classroom book club activities for middle school

Book club for middle school is your indispensible guide to implementing book club in the middle level classroom grades 6 through 8. If you belong to a book group yourself, you will know that the pleasure of reading is multiplied when we share our ideas, explore differences of opinion and find common interests. The middle school classroom teaching resources teachers. I used to be much more involved in the book clubs when i taught fifth grade, but i only had 24 students then, and i had them all day long and well, they were in. Human scavenger hunt great gettoknowyou activity for the first week of class. I knew when i moved to 7th grade that book clubs would be one of the things that moved with me. So today we are going to explore 25 proven activities that can be applied to any book and at any age level. Scholastic book clubs is the best possible partner to help you get excellent childrens books into the hands of every child, to help them become successful lifelong readers and discover the joy and power of. Examples of social and emotional learning in middle school. Whether youre considering a classroom book club for the first time, or are already guiding your students through their third book this year, heres a list of benefits and some tips for success you can employ right away.

A good grasp of language and structure are essential skills that can be fostered by embracing a middle school students lifestyle, interests and motivations. Students enjoy seeing everyones designs and the colorful displays are a way to personalize the classroom for backtoschool night. Oct 14, 2015 setting up a book club in school reading groups and book clubs are a hugely popular way of engaging readers and are a way into opening the box of reading delights. You and your book club have been reading your book critically and looking. Books clubs can be an effective way to use these natural tendencies as a positive tool to engage middle school students in literature. The advantages of a book club in a middle school classroom. Reflect a studentcentered model of literacy employing the gradual. My only hope is that those middle school students, whose enthusiasm i quashed, found another way to become passionate about literature. A prime motivator, especially for secondary students, is social. Christina is an expert in all things books, and shes going to share her experiences using picture books in middle school. How to do book clubs in the middle school classroom. Teaching reading in middle and high school can be challenging. May 12, 2020 even without the equations beyond most middle school students, but not high school algebra or physics students, the article nonetheless supports a discussion about satellites, orbits, or the international space station since part of the activity is learning how to spot it in the night sky. On a sheet of paper create a bingo grid of five squares by five squares, suggests bill singer in the scholastic teacher plan book.

A group of high school students sitting in a circle, discussing a book. If your club lasts more than an hour, mix these up each day, allowing one hour for each. Several years ago i started a middle school book club as a way to encourage my kids to read great some classic literature and enable them to discuss the books with their friends. Minilessons that support effective book clubs center. One of the cornerstones of book club is student choice, and this element begins with allowing students to select their text.

Sel in middle school social studiesaugust 2017 page 5 create class projects that require effort e. Of course, students may choose to run their own book clubs at any. Learning happens best in an accepting environment where everyone feels welcome. An eightpage classroom activity book designed with educational activities featuring the club crew from the kids against bullying website. Simply put, a book club is a group of readers, usually three or four, who read books roughly in sync with each other. Through the activities we added in, they also got a chance to bring the stories to life. This can be a tall order in middle school, when students bodies and minds are changing rapidly. 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. In a book club, you dont have to just sit around and talk about the book. Having socialmedia like conversations about our books gives students that space. Book club for middle school shows you how book club can address and make the best of these traits. Provide meaningful selections during book clubs, i offer five or six books that are related either to a whole class text or to each other by topic, theme, genre, or author.

Watch a book club trailer made by students for hatchet here. Explore options for setting up and running a book club. How we set up book clubs in middle school pernille ripp. You can play games charades or win, lose or draw with bookspecific themes, do themed activities or even dress up as your favorite character for the meeting.

Book clubs for secondary classrooms faulkners fast five. There you are five activities that will easily fill an entire year of after school tech club. Based upon a book you have just read, share a story about yourself that is related to an event or character that was in the book. For example, the whole class can be reading a dystopia novel, but each group has a different title. Ideas for how to do better book clubs in middle school.

Book clubs are a voluntary, studentcentered activity. So what do book clubs in the middle school classroom need to be successful. Write an acrostic poem about the book using the letters in the title of the book or the name of a character or author. Keeping things authentic in my classroom is a challenge, during a time when the ccss, test prep, and parcc assessments seem to loom larger than life. Middle school scholastic book clubs childrens books. The second post details how to establish expectations and create a schedule, and the third post discusses accountability and assessment procedures recent literacy research has revealed that choice is the key ingredient in a successful reading program, especially for reluctant readers. Apr 19, 2017 nycs district 75 published their middle school units of study, developing autonomy when engaging with literature, online. A prime motivator, especially for secondary students, is social interaction. See more ideas about teaching reading, reading workshop and teaching. Then they have to give me their top 5 choices for book club books. Middle school students are typically social and like to talk. Your guide to starting a book club in your school oxford. Usually clubs read the same book, but sometimes clubs may read books by the same author, or read a series of books together that share a common genremystery, historical fiction, fantasyor they may read a collection of disparate books with a common. Design a poster or new book cover depicting the climax of the story.

The second post details how to establish expectations and create a schedule, and the third post discusses accountability and assessment procedures. Lunch bunch meetings should be voluntary, not required. She learns to rely on her inner strength and the support of her family. Book clubs are the perfect way to get your readers reading. How to run a fullchoice book club in your classroom. Setting up a book club in school reading groups and book clubs are a hugely popular way of engaging readers and are a way into opening the box of reading delights. In the middle school ela classroom, writing is a fundamental skill that needs to be built up. Icebreakers are gettingtoknowyou games that help students. By participating in online discussions, students examine literature through more critical lenses, while engaging in new learning technologies. Free, downloadable activity book designed with engaging activities that incorporate the website. Here we present a variety of classroom activities that help biology come to life for your high school or middle school students.

Recent literacy research has revealed that choice is the key ingredient in a successful reading program. It is probably best done in the form of a written recount. They needed a chance to vent all of their frustrations with book clubs in order to see how this time around they might be different. Aug 05, 2017 this post is the first in a threepart series about how to run a book club in your classroom.

By the middle school classroom after my students finish reading their historical fiction book club book, i have them complete a project called quilting the past. Jul 10, 2017 10 picture books to read in the middle school classroom we are thrilled to welcome christina from the hanson hallway as our guest blogger today. The reading is not evaluated in the traditional way. In 201617, my ninth graders read popular young adult titles by authors such as john green, rainbow rowell, and ernest cline. In it they list some of the benefits of book clubs in the classroom. Literature circle lesson plans for middle school just add students. But no matter if you are a book club purist or a book club hybridist, here are three steps with four free guides for setting up and assessing book clubs in your classes. Pheaa middle school activity book middle school activities the activities in this book have been created to help counselors and students meet the pennsylvania career education and work standards at the middle school level. Since biology is the study of life, it stands to reason that the static, inanimate pages of a text book cant quite do it justice. Ideas for how to do better book clubs in middle school april 10, 2017 april 10, 2017 pernille ripp in 2015, i wrote a post discussing how i was doing book clubs with my 7th graders and how their ideas had shaped our process to be more powerful. Seldomridge, a grades 68 project lead the way teacher at granite falls middle school in north carolina, knew a dystopian book club would not only grab students attention, but it would also connect to a range of subjects they were studying. Let students pick what theyd like to participate in, but once selected, they are committed. Whilst you may have a wealth of books in your school library it can often be tough to come up with fresh and engaging ways to study literature.

Book clubs in the middle school ela classroom i recently posted about book clubs in my classroom and i have gotten tons of questions about how i run them on both of my posts. Even without the equations beyond most middle school students, but not high school algebra or physics students, the article nonetheless supports a discussion about satellites, orbits, or the international space station since part of the activity is learning how to spot it in the night sky. Insecurity is rampant, and studies have shown that bullying peaks at this age. Usually clubs read the same book, but sometimes clubs may read books by the same author, or read a series of books together that share a common genremystery, historical fiction, fantasyor they may read a collection of disparate books with a. It engages young learners in creative ways, providing activities to help students think about their feelings, explore responses to bullying situations, and take the pledge to be a kid against bullying. During my eight years in the classroom, i ruined at least two amazing literary works by assigning horrifically dull reading projects. Adolescent learners have unique interests, needs, and strengths.

When book club members join you in a lunch bunch meeting, you can rely on kidwatching to note how students are developing as readers. Draw a classroom mural depicting a major scenes from the book. My primary goal for book club is to create a culture of reading among my students. Apr 17, 2014 now that my kids are older, we still meet for book club and continue to include handson activities, presentations, discussions, and of course food at each meeting. Engaging writing activities to increase skills and. This is why we have a beautiful school library and classroom libraries. Although many aspects of our book club have remained fairly constant over time, as our children reached the middle school years we began to make adjustments in the areas of. These activities are easy to follow an suitable for most age groups within an elementary junior high school level. Whether youre a school librarian or a teacher, allowing time for. Promote a love for literature and a positive attitude towards reading. Apr 10, 2017 ideas for how to do better book clubs in middle school april 10, 2017 april 10, 2017 pernille ripp in 2015, i wrote a post discussing how i was doing book clubs with my 7th graders and how their ideas had shaped our process to be more powerful. Spoiled princess esperanza moves from her familys ranch in mexico to a migrant camp during the great depression. Kids against bullying classroom activity book pacer. Aug 05, 2017 this post is the third in a threepart series about engaging middle and high school students in choice reading by running a book club in the classroom.

Putting 100 plus students together in an online community to have conversations can be scary. Recentering the middle school classroom as a vibrant learning community. Link your experience to no more than four situations that occurred within the text. By participating in online discussions, students examine literature through more critical lenses, while engaging in. Biology activities for high school and middle school.

Your students will love the choice and autonomy of book clubs. I would not have gotten student buy in if i had not had an honest conversation with them beforehand. Middle school students arent too old to enjoy library activities, and some exercises can help students prepare for harder research projects and writing assignments that theyll encounter in high. Activities for the classroom nasa space place nasa. Books have always been very important to my family. Try some of these activities, broken out by age group, to help mold student behavior throughout the year. Find ideas for discussions and activities your book club will enjoy.

The middle school classroom teaching resources teachers pay. The social aspect and autonomy of book clubs appeal to middle school students and provide motivation as well as opportunities to expand knowledge. I still wanted it to have a readforfun concept, so we have friday book clubs. Posted in book club, freebies, literacy, middle school, professional reading. Book clubs in the middle school ela classroom the hungry. This post is the first in a threepart series about how to run a book club in your classroom. Available in both full color and blackwhite versions.

Draw the main character from a book you have recently. Minilessons that support effective book clubs center for the. Keep reading to explore some independent reading accountability ideas and assessments. First book club for middle school is your indispensible guide to implementing book club in the middlelevel classroom grades 6 through 8. Setting up and assessing book club in secondary ela bespoke ela. See more ideas about classroom book clubs, classroom books, reading classroom. After reading an informational book, make a scrapbook about the topics. It used to be 3, but now with so many students, i had to go to top 5, but i also have a lot more book club choices. I prefer my students to read with an open lens, so they come to class with all the. That shared reading experience where students would get to just read and discuss is something i have loved having in the classroom the past few years. Nycs district 75 published their middle school units of study, developing autonomy when engaging with literature, online. Book clubs bring challenges in class management and assessment, but. How to start a middle school book club education possible. Book clubs are a great way to engage students with reading and help build a reading culture at your school.

Jesse aarons knows all about hard work, but his new friend leslie. This post is the third in a threepart series about engaging middle and high school students in choice reading by running a book club in the classroom. Stealing this for next years middle school book club with images. Text to self is a great opportunity for students to become introspective. A novel study is a central pillar of the high school english classroom no matter. You will love the selfdirection, motivation, and authentic reading, writing, and responding to literature that. As stated in previous sections of this series, mini lessons are not a necessary part of literacy circles book clubs. Scholastic book clubs is the best possible partner to help you get excellent childrens books into the hands of every child, to help them become successful lifelong readers and discover the joy and power of good books. Classroom book clubs traditionally involve studentled discussions about.