CCBC-Net Archives
RE: Talking Books: Book Discussion Groups with Kids and Teens
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Gardow, Pamela <pgardow_at_ecasd.k12.wi.us>
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:06:13 -0500
We run several types of books groups for teens at our high school (9th - 12 th graders.)
Every summer, we hold at least two book discussion groups - one a week or t wo after school is out, and one a couple of weeks before school starts. Th e reading specialist and I always pick the books. We meet from 11:00 - 1:0 0 and everyone brings a sack lunch, although we always provide a dessert, l ike ice cream bars. We discuss two books per session, and the students are told they can read one or both books, but are welcome to stay for the enti re session. In addition to discussing the books, we try to do a fun ice-br eaker, perhaps an activity related to the book, and we ALWAYS have prizes. We usually have from 12 - 20 kids per session, and draw heavily from our Te en Literacy club that meets all year long. We register students in advance , and send reminder letters for the August book club.
Last summer our book selections were:
June 10: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (and/or) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
August 19: Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen (and/or)
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
We try to pick books that will be both popular and worthy of discussion. S ometimes we include an author visit (if we get really lucky!!) Although I order multiple copies of the books for our library, some teens purchase the ir own copies and/or get them from the public library.
Much of the success of our summer book groups comes from having a club that meets every week during the school year. Frequently that group discusses what individuals are reading rather than everyone reading the same book. T he club is service related, and plans activities for Teen Read Week, nomina tes books for awards, and does outreach to promote reading in the community . For Teen Read Week this year, students have organized two author visits (Jonathan Friesen, author of Jerk California, and Kao Kalia Yang, author of The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir) and will run a huge book exchan ge and cappuccino bar in the library. The combination of book discussion a nd projects seems to be a good mix in terms of holding teens' attention.
Pam
Pam Gardow, Library Media Specialist Advisor, Teen Literacy Initiative Memorial High School 2225 Keith St. Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-852-6309 pgardow_at_ecasd.k12.wi.us
Received on Mon 19 Oct 2009 04:06:13 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:06:13 -0500
We run several types of books groups for teens at our high school (9th - 12 th graders.)
Every summer, we hold at least two book discussion groups - one a week or t wo after school is out, and one a couple of weeks before school starts. Th e reading specialist and I always pick the books. We meet from 11:00 - 1:0 0 and everyone brings a sack lunch, although we always provide a dessert, l ike ice cream bars. We discuss two books per session, and the students are told they can read one or both books, but are welcome to stay for the enti re session. In addition to discussing the books, we try to do a fun ice-br eaker, perhaps an activity related to the book, and we ALWAYS have prizes. We usually have from 12 - 20 kids per session, and draw heavily from our Te en Literacy club that meets all year long. We register students in advance , and send reminder letters for the August book club.
Last summer our book selections were:
June 10: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (and/or) The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
August 19: Jerk, California by Jonathan Friesen (and/or)
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta
We try to pick books that will be both popular and worthy of discussion. S ometimes we include an author visit (if we get really lucky!!) Although I order multiple copies of the books for our library, some teens purchase the ir own copies and/or get them from the public library.
Much of the success of our summer book groups comes from having a club that meets every week during the school year. Frequently that group discusses what individuals are reading rather than everyone reading the same book. T he club is service related, and plans activities for Teen Read Week, nomina tes books for awards, and does outreach to promote reading in the community . For Teen Read Week this year, students have organized two author visits (Jonathan Friesen, author of Jerk California, and Kao Kalia Yang, author of The Latehomecomer: A Hmong Family Memoir) and will run a huge book exchan ge and cappuccino bar in the library. The combination of book discussion a nd projects seems to be a good mix in terms of holding teens' attention.
Pam
Pam Gardow, Library Media Specialist Advisor, Teen Literacy Initiative Memorial High School 2225 Keith St. Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-852-6309 pgardow_at_ecasd.k12.wi.us
Received on Mon 19 Oct 2009 04:06:13 PM CDT
