Effective Literacy Instruction

Book Club

Teaching literacy is complicated in comparison to the past, especially when it comes to effective literacy instruction. A common concern that is always raised among educators and teachers is literacy teaching and the development of students’ reading and writing skills. There are assorted strategies and methodologies applied by teachers to teach reading effectively such as guided reading, early intervention, and literature-based instruction. One solution that is offered by educators is preparing book clubs formally or informally as a feasible practice to strengthen students’ comprehension skills (Raphael et al., 2001).

What is a book club?

§ Small group instruction

§ Students discuss a book that they have all read

§ Text may be at or beyond students’ independent reading level

§ Children meet to talk about the text and share their thinking

§ Instructional focus is on constructing meaning through language and print

Book clubs are and are not, (Laura Candler, 2011).

Example of a successful book club and discussion, (VirtualTeacherGirl, 2015)

Raphael et al. (2001) argued that establishing formal or informal book clubs is a productive approach that teachers can implement in their classes and students will be equipped with many skills such as:

§ Books clubs can be fun and engaging ways to promote reading in the classroom

§ Students have the opportunity to share their findings from the books with their classmates

§ Students will understand others’ perspectives on the same topic and learn to look different at the same things

§ Students’ ability on leading discussions will be developed

§ Students would be able to expand their network through book clubs

§ Students’ public speaking skills, critical thinking, self-confidence, communication, and leadership skills will enhance

Structure of a Book Club:

Before Reading

Introduce the titles from the set of selections to the class. Form book club groups based on students' preferences. Make a schedule so students know when they will meet.

Independent Reading of the Book

Students read the text individually. If particular students are not able to read the text independently, teachers may need to read the text to them or make an audio recording available.

Book Club Discussion

When all students in a group have finished reading or listening to the book, bring them together for a discussion. Discussion is facilitated by the teacher, but the goal over time is for students to initiate the talk, respond to others in the group, and add to each other's ideas using evidence from the text or personal experiences to build a rich understanding.

Group Evaluation

At the end of the discussion, students self-evaluate their book club on characteristics such as turn-talking and preparation. They talk about what they will work on.