Reading is an enjoyable activity that can be done alone or shared in a discussion group. Plan a time, choose the place, and invite a a few friends to join a reading club this summer. Use the following guidelines to get started.......
Tips for Conducting Reading Club Discussions
(Loosely adapted from bookbrowse.com)
- Make sure students are in a quiet setting free from distractions. Plan length of discussion appropriate to age and attention span of child (30 minutes for grammar-level; 1 to 1-1/2 hours for logic level).
- Make sure students all know each other by name and are comfortable with each other. You might plan some ice-breakers for the first get-together. One way is to some reading-related questions on slips of paper and “pass the hat.” Sample questions are:
v What was the first book you remember reading/being read?
v What is your favorite book of all time?
v Which book has left the most lasting impression on you?
v Which book have you read most frequently?
v Name one book/author that you really can't stand.
v What types of books do you like reading most?
v If you were given $30 to spend on a book today, what book would you buy?
v Where is your favorite place to read?
v Which character in a book do you think is most like you?
v Which character in a book would you most like to be?
v Do you plan to read any books on your own this summer?
v Which literary character would you most like to have as a best friend?
v What is your favorite movie that has been adapted from a book?
- Here are some suggested questions on which to base discussions. You will need to modify these depending on the age/ability of the group. Also depending on the age of the group, you may choose to appoint a student leader to keep the discussion on track, or you may find that you are more successful putting an adult in charge. These are by no means the definitive questions; you might have more.
v Who are the key characters and what do they do?
Does one or more of the characters tell the story? How do the events in the story affect the characters? Do the characters grow and get better because of the problems they face, or do the problems defeat the characters? Which characters are friends and which are enemies? Do their relationships with each other change? Is one character more admirable than the others? Would you act the way the characters do if you were in their shoes?
Does one or more of the characters tell the story? How do the events in the story affect the characters? Do the characters grow and get better because of the problems they face, or do the problems defeat the characters? Which characters are friends and which are enemies? Do their relationships with each other change? Is one character more admirable than the others? Would you act the way the characters do if you were in their shoes?
v What style is it written in?
Is the narrator telling the story about himself/herself (1st person), or is an outside voice telling the story (3rd person)? Is the story told from one point of view or many? Does the author use local dialects? Is there a lot of dialogue? Is there a lot of description or factual information? Is the story told in a way that you “can’t put it down”?
Is the narrator telling the story about himself/herself (1st person), or is an outside voice telling the story (3rd person)? Is the story told from one point of view or many? Does the author use local dialects? Is there a lot of dialogue? Is there a lot of description or factual information? Is the story told in a way that you “can’t put it down”?
v What is the book about?
Does the book have a central theme or lesson to be learned? If so what? Does it have many themes? If so how are they connected? Does the theme work naturally with the plot, or does the author have to leave the plot to directly tell the reader the lesson he/she is trying to teach?
Does the book have a central theme or lesson to be learned? If so what? Does it have many themes? If so how are they connected? Does the theme work naturally with the plot, or does the author have to leave the plot to directly tell the reader the lesson he/she is trying to teach?
v In what time period is it set?
If the book is set in a previous time period, is this a period you know anything about? Would you have liked to live in this period? What would be the advantages/disadvantages? If set in the future - do you think it's a credible view of the future? Is it one that you'd wish on future generations? If it's set in the current time, what current events, if any, color the story?
If the book is set in a previous time period, is this a period you know anything about? Would you have liked to live in this period? What would be the advantages/disadvantages? If set in the future - do you think it's a credible view of the future? Is it one that you'd wish on future generations? If it's set in the current time, what current events, if any, color the story?
v Where does the story take place?
Do the location and environment of the book affect the telling of the story or are they merely a backdrop? Does the location change during the book or stay the same? If it changes, does this have any effect on the central characters?
Do the location and environment of the book affect the telling of the story or are they merely a backdrop? Does the location change during the book or stay the same? If it changes, does this have any effect on the central characters?
v What do you know about the author?
Students can give any details they have researched or already know about the author.
v What did you like or dislike?
Did you like the book or not? What did you like/dislike about the book? Is it possible to find a book interesting without 'enjoying' it? If you didn't enjoy it what sort of person do you think would? Would you give it as a gift? If so, to whom would you give it? Can you see yourself reading it again?
Did you like the book or not? What did you like/dislike about the book? Is it possible to find a book interesting without 'enjoying' it? If you didn't enjoy it what sort of person do you think would? Would you give it as a gift? If so, to whom would you give it? Can you see yourself reading it again?
v Movie adaptation?
Has a movie that you know of been made from this book? If you saw the movie, was it a good adaptation? If a movie has not been made, do you think the book would make a good movie? Why or why not? (Who would you choose to play the lead roles?)
v How did the book affect you?
Do you feel 'changed' in anyway? Did it expand your range of experience or challenge your assumptions (for example did it take you to a place you haven't been before or help you see a place you know in a different light). Did reading it help you to understand a person better - perhaps a friend or relative, or even yourself?
Do you feel 'changed' in anyway? Did it expand your range of experience or challenge your assumptions (for example did it take you to a place you haven't been before or help you see a place you know in a different light). Did reading it help you to understand a person better - perhaps a friend or relative, or even yourself?
v Compare and Contrast (suggested for older students)
Contrast this book with others you have read, for example, books by the same author, with a similar theme, or set in the same time period.
Contrast this book with others you have read, for example, books by the same author, with a similar theme, or set in the same time period.