After School Book Club
For several years now I have been facilitating an after
school book club for my students. It all
started because of the kids. My students
with dyslexia often carry around the big thick books popular with their peers,
but seem to rarely read them. They work
hard during their multisensory reading instruction and there is never enough
time to really sink our teeth into engaging books. So, I
had the idea of an invitation only book club.
I have fond memories of the first group of kids. They were the most ADHD group of funny kids
that I have ever encountered. We had so
much fun! The best part was a few years
later when a mom told me how the combination of root beer floats, yoga balls,
and books hooked her child on reading!
The club continues each year with a changing cast of
characters. The best part (of many best
parts) is when the kids ask if we are doing book club this year. Generally, I try to do it in 6-8 week
sessions. About a week after a session
ends, kids are asking when does it pick up again. So, every time that I think I am done with
book club for the year, I feel energized and compelled to run with their
reading interest and resume our sessions.
Book club serves so many purposes. I love hearing the boys laughing out loud as
they read to each other, huddled together in their favorite nook near the
heater. They help each other with the
harder words; there is acceptance and understanding of each other. The girls this go-round are more timid in
reading aloud to each other. One child,
who actually is a very strong reader but I included as I thought she would
enjoy the social aspect of book club, has blossomed! She is the leader of the group! She enjoys reading aloud and seems to know
instinctively when to stop and let another read. She introduced book talks to the club, which
we really hadn’t included on a regular basis.
Her enthusiasm and expectation of sharing favorite books has even the
most reluctant child pulling out their current reading book from the backpack
to share with us.
I love book club for the kids and often, it is the highlight
of my workweek. Kids laughing and loving
books! It doesn’t get any better than
this.
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