The Lakeview PTSA has offered book clubs for fourth through sixth graders for several years. We would like to offer book clubs in the younger grades, and many of the same tips apply. The PTSA has a collection of books to use for the Classic Book Clubs (grades 4-6). The books are shelved in the closet in the staff break room. If there is a book you want (in any of the grades) and the PTSA doesn’t own it you have two options: 1) see if there are enough funds in the PTSA book club budget to purchase them or 2) ask the School Librarian to request copies from all the libraries throughout the school district. If you borrow books from other libraries, it is important to keep track of which students have them and that they are returned promptly to the library. Mrs. Jensen will be setting up a guest library account for each of the book club leaders. If you choose to use district library books, the books will be checked out to you, and she asks that you collect them and return them all at one time. Should a book be lost, the PTSA has funds set aside to cover the cost. Oftentimes students will have to share a copy of the book – please set up a system within the class for the kids or the teacher to record when a copy of book changes hands.
Book Clubs meet about once a month during lunch, but may meet less often. The kids discuss the book as they eat. Past book club leaders have found that more kids will attend if you end the discussion in time for the kids to go to recess. The choice of books is entirely up to the book club leader/s. Meetings generally take place in the shared space closest to the classrooms in your grade.
To get started, either visit the classrooms in your grade or send home a flyer explaining what book club is, how it works and the date of the first meeting. For the younger grades, it may be helpful to visit the classrooms in person to explain how a book club works and answer questions. Establish a few ground rules such as, respecting everyone’s opinion, listening when other talk and staying focused on the book.
During the school year have the teachers remind the kids about the next meeting about a week in advance and possibly again the day of the meeting (especially for the younger grades).
For the meeting it’s best to have a list of discussion questions for the kids to answer. You can pass out one question per kid or just ask questions to the group. For the fourth through sixth grade book clubs, there is a notebook with some suggested discussion questions (stored in the staff break room closet with the classic books). Feel free to photocopy these or write your own. There are many websites with discussion questions as well.