Spring is almost here. With warmer days, blooming flowers and the feeling of new beginnings in the air, it’s the perfect time to renew your students’ interest in reading by starting a book club. Whether your students are reading with Learning Ally or traditional text, a book club builds excitement around reading and encourages discussions. Students in elementary school through high school benefit enjoy the social aspects of book clubs and the opportunity to read books that appeal to their interests. When engaged in a book club students also:

• Increase understanding of the text through rich discussion with peers
• Start to develop lifelong reading habits and an appreciation of reading through positive reading experiences in a book club
• Develop literacy skills such as fluency, comprehension and vocabulary

Choose a fun theme like Milk and Bookies or Chips and Chapters to build excitement about participating in the book club. Students will see the book club and an opportunity to read and socialize with peers. Use the Featured Books list to find selections for your students to read. Be sure to develop questions for discussion that are open-ended, get students to share their opinions/ideas, and get students talking.

When selecting books for the book club, choose books that are:

• on-grade level books
• spark interest in your students
• lead to rich discourse
• develop critical thinking skills

Start a Milk and Bookies or Chips and Chapters book club in your class! 

1. Decide where, what time and for how long the club will meet. 
2. Create a book club “trailer” for students to watch in order to build excitement and promote the book club. 
3. Email parents and other educators to inform them about the book club and have their support as students read. 
4. Empower students to make book selections by having 3-4 book titles for them to choose from on a sign-up sheet. 
5. Have a book club kick-off meeting and consider letting the students pick the book club’s name. 
6. Discuss book club etiquette and expectations. 
7. Model good discussion and question asking techniques. 
8. Meet regularly with the book club to discuss the reading selection.
9. Wrap-up: Watch the movie version of the book (if available) or have a Book Club Social where students can discuss their experiences in the book club and their opinion of the books overall. 
10. Log in to set up your students with books for Milk and Bookies or Chips and Chapters. Share your activities and learn from others using #springreadingfever and tagging @Learning_Ally.