Breathing New Life into Book Clubs: A Practical Guide for Teachers

Before starting a new book group unit, there are many questions to grapple with -- and ultimately make a decision on, like How should I group my students? What should the book group routine look like? What should they write during the process? How will I assess them? The list goes on! Breathing New Life into Book Clubs expertly addresses all of these common questions in a systematic, clear way. Step-by-step, from book selection to the final celebration, Dana and Sonja guide you through an array of fresh ideas, giving you the clarity and confidence you need to make informed decisions in your curriculum design.In addition to providing readily applicable ideas (complete with online resources as well), this text provides the research-based rationale that supports these ideas, which can be shared with colleagues and parents alike. Throughout the text, Dana and Sonja continue to remind teachers to never lose sight of the main objectives of book clubs: helping each child have meaningful, memorable -- and joyful! -- reading experiences that will inspire them to be lifelong readers. I love that this book makes the comparison between adult book clubs and classroom book clubs, reinforcing the importance of authenticity, community, and fun!With its clear lesson ideas and its focus on pedagogy, I found this book equal parts useful and inspiring! This is one of those teaching texts that I found myself putting “YES!” in the margins repeatedly. And one of those books that I will now keep on my shelf at school for easy access. I just completed my tenth year of teaching and found this text to be very helpful, and I think that it would be helpful for teachers at whatever stage they are in their careers. I also feel that its philosophy is in line with the Readers Workshop approach and could be readily integrated into a classroom that applies the Workshop model.

This book has given me so much clarity on how to run an effective book club in my classroom. Each chapter gives teachers practical advice and strategies that are user friendly and student centered. I especially love the suggestions for mini-lessons to teach to book clubs based on needs, the forms you can download to help plan/observe/facilitate lessons, and the suggestions for books to use for each grade level.

I like that it’s a new perspective on the old ways I did book clubs 3-6 years ago.

Cherry-Paul and Johansen share their years of experience in the classroom and as researchers to bring us practical resources for our teaching. They provide ample examples, explanations, and room for creativity! Love this book!! After years out of the classroom, this book has been an invaluable resource for jumpstarting my book clubs! Even if you aren't sure about starting book clubs in your class, there are so many great ideas for good teaching that it is worth it to just to read.

Easy read with great information.

Reading it right now! Great resources to start the new school year!

Sonja Cherry-Paul and Dana Johansen have given us nothing short of a professional gift between two covers with their beautiful new book, Breathing New Life into Book Clubs. While we have long known the research-based impact of high quality book clubs, there have been few resources available to sate that would help teachers know what this would look like in the company of children with the minute details that are needed to make it happen. With eloquence and obvious passion for books clubs, Sonja and Dana offer a step-by-step guide that will making 'breathing new life into book clubs a reality in classrooms everywhere.I wholeheartedly endorse this beautiful book and can envision the amazing conversations around books that will enrich the lives of children. They leave nothing to chance in helping teachers to create book clubs that will invite conversational engagement around books. I am so grateful for the wisdom that Sonja and Dana offer us all and the joyful Book Clubs their suggestions will surely inspire.

Have you tried student book clubs and worried about their effectiveness? If yes, then this book is for you. Sonja and Dana have practical answers for all your questions about Book Clubs from: How to acquire books? Which books? How to organize students? How often to meet? Any questions that you have had are addressed in this book because Sonja and Dana have also had those very same questions.If you use a reading workshop model or are implementing ideas from Kate Roberts's "A Novel Approach" or Gallagher and Kittle's "180 Days", this book will be an invaluable assistant to your book club knowledge. You and your book clubs will improve! And your days will be filled with joy as you consider similarities between adult book clubs (maybe you would like to practice) and school book clubs filled with joy, learning and valuable discussion!