"Way more fun than doing a book report," said one student at Glenmary School in Peace River, Alberta, Canada about the seventh and eighth grade book clubs. Glenmary's Action Team for Partnerships (ATP) started the book clubs two years ago in response to increasingly complex reading tasks on required tests and low parent satisfaction with the amount of reading children do in their free time. The ATP also developed the book clubs to help support the school improvement goal of increasing reading comprehension.
Seventh- and eighth-grade language arts students had the choice of participating in a book club in lieu of completing a traditional book report. Together, teachers and interested students selected books for the clubs, and the ATP bought six to eight copies of each. The cost was approximately $500 to buy the books-a one time expense, since the books will be redistributed to future book clubs.
Groups of four to six students chose one of the available books to read during their free time and discuss at weekly meetings. Each group met with a parent or community mentor a total of three to five times, depending on the length and the complexity of the book. For the final meeting, a local pizzeria provided free refreshments, and the group participated in a fun activity of their choice in the gym. Most of the groups held their meetings in the school during after-school or evening hours, and one group met at the public library.
The outcome of the book clubs was positive for everyone. The 50 students who participated had an opportunity to read and discuss books with peers in a supportive environment. Parents liked seeing their children read during their free time. The employer of one parent mentor was so impressed he gave each book club member a gift certificate to the local book store.
Building on the success of the book clubs, the ATP will consider the following strategies to expand the program this year:
Glenmary's book clubs address seventh- and eighth-grade students' increasing independence, parents' desire to see their teenagers read more for pleasure, and the school's goal to improve student reading comprehension. With this well-planned program, the ATP focused their efforts on student achievement in ways that made all participants happy to be involved.
Adapted from Promising Partnership Practices 2004, National Network of Partnership Schools at Johns Hopkins University.