It should come as no surprise that reading is extremely valuable for children starting at birth and spreading throughout the course of their lives. Reading really is the foundation for every subject and is one of the best tools educators can equip their students with. According to “The Joy and Power of Reading,” “Children who are routinely read to day in and day out—and immersed in rich talk about books and the various activities in which they are engaged—thrive.”

Furthermore, Kate DiCamillo, a popular author, once said, “Reading should not be presented to a child as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift.” Book clubs are one way to get students reading, talking, and thinking about text.

Irene C. Fountas and Gay Su Pinnell state, “Book Clubs are beneficial because they deepen readers’ appreciation and understanding of a common text; Extend students’ thinking as process and interpret the perspectives and opinions of peers; Expand students’ ability to express their ideas orally using academic language; Provide an authentic context for applying norms for listening and speaking; and Bring student learning together, so students find themselves in control.”

There are many ways to set up and design a book club, and no right or wrong way to do this. After doing some research, we’ve constructed a foundation for effectively designing Virtual Book Clubs.

During Reading

While this is one structure of designing book clubs, other elements may be considered and incorporated into book clubs. This framework could also be adapted for In-person and Hybrid teaching/learning models. The overarching goal of an online, hybrid, or classroom book club is to promote a love of literature in a positive, supportive environment. As always, instructional coaches are happy and eager to answer your questions or help with implementation of Book Clubs.

We would never expect perfection from our students, so why do we put so much pressure on ourselves? Thinking about lesson design sometimes puts us, as teachers, in situations where we are trying something new (especially this year). We need to give ourselves permission to be OK with lessons that did not go perfectly. What counts is the reflection, learning from what didn’t go as planned and what we might do differently next time. How we react and adapt to challenges, technical glitches and surprises can be just as valuable as the lesson itself! Literature is a great way to reinforce that message. Here’s a list of several books that promote growth mindset and how it is important for all of us to be risk-takers and believe in ourselves! Ask your library media specialist to help track down a copy on the shelf!