Meredith Marshall

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Meredith Marshall

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CIMT 512

Proficiency #2

Option: Book Club Kit

August 2, 2009

Proficiency #2: Develop and demonstrate skills to help young readers discover in various literary genres the patterns, relationships, and feelings expressed in literature that can maximize the pleasure of reading.

Option: Book Club Kit with following components

-persuasive email to principal proposing after school book club

-flyer to advertise the creation of the club

-list of possible book choices for club to read and discuss

-list of possible authors to read

-introductory reading survey to find out members’ reading preferences

-meeting/discussion rules

-rules for choosing the next book

-rules for choosing the next student leader

-agenda for the first introductory meeting

-agenda for second meeting, in which first book is discussed

-list of student leader duties

-list of generic discussion questions if the discussion is slowing down and the student leader is out of questions

-ways to evaluate success of club over time

Mrs. Smith,

I am writing to express my interest in starting an after school book club for 5th and 6th graders. I would handle all of the administrative tasks involved in running the monthly book club.

There are many benefits of having a book club. In their book Talk About Books (2003), Elizabeth Knowles and Martha Smith state, “Research shows that independent reading is the single factor most strongly associated with reading achievement. Students who choose books for themselves and read on their own become the strongest readers” (vii). And, as Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp point out in their book The Kids’ Book Club Book (2007), “Book clubs are an excellent way to nurture a lifelong love of reading and to experience the joy of exploring the world of books with others” (3).Gelman and Levy Krupp state that membership in a book club at this age promotes confidence by building on independent reading skills and helps kids develop skills of listening, responding and taking turns. (5)

I know that a book club will help prepare its members for junior high school, both academically and socially.

If you think a book club would benefit our students please let me know so that we can meet and discuss the details.

Thanks for your time and attention,

Meredith Marshall

Gelman, Judy, and Vicki Levy Krupp. The Kids' Book Club Book. 1st ed. New York: Penguin Group, 2007. Print. 3-5.

Knowles, Elizabeth, and Martha Smith. Talk About Books. 1st ed. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2003. Print. vii.

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Possible Book Choices

Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix

In a society that has banned third children, twelve-year-old Luke spends his days at home with the shades drawn, fearful that the Population Police might somehow learn of his existence. Bored and lonely, Luke often watches the activity in his neighborhood, including the building of a new housing development next to his family’s farm, from a hidden window. One day, Luke spies movement in the upper window of a neighboring house, and his sheltered life changes forever (Gelman and Krupp Levy 204).

Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Ten-year-old India Opal Buloni and her father are newcomers to Naomi, Florida. Opal struggles with feelings of loneliness and longing- for her mother who left the family and new friends- until the day she meets Winn-Dixie, a stray dog with a goofy smile. Winn-Dixie helps Opal connect with the strange but warmhearted collection of folks, young and old, that populate her new town (Gelman and Krupp Levy 69).

Blubber by Judy Blume

Linda’s weight problems inspire the cruel instincts of the mob in her fellow fifth graders, and any child who feels victimized will love this one (Pearlman, Ph.D. 183).

The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

Twelve-year-old Lina Mayfelt longs for a world of lightness and color, a world removed from the dark, forlorn city of Ember, where the only source of light- an enormous generator is failing. Everyone tells Lina no such place exists, but her friend Doon is convinced an escape route from Ember can be found. When Lina discovers and begins to decode a cryptic letter, she suspects Doon may be right (Gelman and Levy Krupp 133).

Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine

It’s 1926 and Dave, eleven years old and newly orphaned, has just landed in the Hebrew Home for Boys, a drafty, old asylum run by the maniacal Mr. Bloom. By day, Dave commiserates with his “buddies,” or fellow orphans. By night, he escapes to the streets of Harlem, where Solly Gruber, a fortune-teller with a Yiddish-speaking parrot, introduces Dave to the vibrant nightlife of the Harlem Renaissance. At one evening gala, Dave befriends Irma Lee, the daughter of a Harlem socialite. Soon he must decide which place- the Hebrew Home or the streets of Harlem- to call home (Gelman and Levy Krupp 125).

The Eighteenth Emergency by Betsy Byars

Mouse Fawley has a lively imagination. He also likes drawing. When he draws an arrow pointing to the school bully as a neanderthal he is bound to create an “emergency”. To avoid the situation, Mouse thinks of seventeen other likely (very funny) emergencies. But ultimately he needs to confront his demons (Nieuwenhuizen 57).

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Dissatisfied with her boring life, twelve-year-old Claudia Kincaid convinces her miserly brother, Jaime to run away and hide out in New York City’s Metropolitan Museum of Art. Claudia’s sense of order and structure enables her to plan their trip and weeklong stay at the museum with every detail (Soltan 28).

Frindle by Andrew Clements

Nick Allen has a reputation for making mischief. When his no nonsense teacher, Mrs. Granger, asks him to research the origin of words, Nick schemes to invent a new word by calling a pen a “frindle.” Nick’s fellow fifth graders embrace the idea, and use of the word quickly spreads beyond the classroom. When Mrs. Granger, who worships the dictionary, protests, a battle of wills ensues (Gelman and Levy Krupp 89).

Half Magic by Edward Eager

When siblings Mark, Katherine, Jane and Martha find a magical coin that grants wishes, it appears their summer of boredom is over. The children soon discover the magical token delivers only partial magic, granting half of any wish. When they wish to be whisked away to a desert island, the children land in the desert- with no island. The four take turns making wishes, eventually doubling their requests to make them “whole,” with unpredictable results. As their misadventures continue, the children learn to appreciate the maxim “Be careful what you wish for.” (Gelman and Levy Krupp 75).

Homeless Bird by Gloria Whelan

In India, the thirteen-year-old Koly faces an arranged marriage to a boy she has never met, and leaves the security of her family and small village to start a new life. Dire circumstances soon force Koly to find her way alone in the society that has no place for her, and she must summon her courage and creativity to survive (Gelman and Levy Krupp 197).

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

Twelve-year-old orphan Jeffrey Lionel Magee runs away in search of a home, and finds his way to segregated Two Mills, Pennsylvania. The mysterious stranger gains instant celebrity- and the nickname “Maniac”- for his miraculous athletic feats. In his struggle to find a home in a racially divided community, Maniac confronts prejudice and breaks down racial barriers (Gelman and Levy Krupp 94).

My Louisiana Sky by Kimberly Willis Holt

In Saitter, a small Louisiana town in 1957, twelve-year-old Tiger Ann Parker copes with feelings of shame for her mentally slow parents, ambivalence toward her neighbor, Jesse Wade, and the desire to be accepted into the “secret world” shared by the girls in her class. When Tiger’s granny, who takes care of her dies, Tiger is forced to decide whether she will stay with her parents in Saitter or move to the “big city” of Baton Rouge with sophisticated Aunt Dori Kay (Gelman and Levy Krupp 167).

The Pinballs by Betsy Byars

Although this engaging novel about kids sent to a foster home was an American Library Association Notable Children’s book several years ago, the subject matter of young people without viable parents is even more prevalent today (Pearlman, Ph.D. 184).

Skellig by David Almond

Michael’s family has just moved to a new neighborhood of Newcastle, England, and his baby sister is hospitalized with a serious heart condition- leaving Michael feeling isolated and fearful for her well-being. While his parents are preoccupied with his sister, Michael discovers Skellig, a mysterious birdlike creature in the shadows of the garage. With the help of Mina, a new friend from the neighborhood, Michael finds comfort in nurturing Skellig and exploring the mysteries of love and friendship (Gelman and Levy Krupp 230).

Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan

After being kicked out of every school in Rhode Island, Jake Semple has been sent to live in North Carolina to live with his grandfather who enrolls him in the Creative Academy, a home school run by the eccentric Applewhite family on their sixteen acre compound. In spite of his rebelliousness, the artsy Applewhites embrace Jake- with the exception of E.D., the only family member who relishes schedules and resents Jake’s intrusion. At first, Jake assumes he’ll breeze through this unstructured home school. But the Applewhites bring out qualities in Jake that he never knew existed, and his attitude and self-image begin to change (Gelman and Levy Krupp 239).

The View from Saturday by E.L. Konigsburg

Mrs. Olinski chooses four unlikely students to represent the Epiphany Middle School’s sixth grade in the Academic Bowl, and her team has made it into the finals of the New York state competition. As Noah, Nadia, Ethan, and Julian take turns narrating their own stories, they reveal the reasons they were chosen for the team and the secrets of their success- as teammates and friends (Gelman and Levy Krupp 247).

Words of Stone by Kevin Henkes

Two lonely children in rural Wisconsin become friends one summer. This is a book about kinship and betrayal (Pearlman, Ph.D. 186).

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

This story of the adventures in space and time of Meg, Charles, and Calvin, as they search for Meg’s father, a scientist who has disappeared, is itself timeless (Pearlman, Ph.D. 187).

Works Cited

Gelman, Judy, and Vicki Levy Krupp. The Kids’ Book Club Book. New

York: Penguin Group, 2007. Print.

Nieuwenhuizen, Agnes. Right Book Right Time. Crows Nest, Australia:

Allen & Unwin, 2007. Print.

Pearlman Ph.D., Mickey. What to Read. New York: HarperPerennial, 1994. Print.

Soltan, Rita. Reading Raps. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2006.

Author Choices to Consider

(list of authors followed by some of their better known books)

Judy Blume

-Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret

-Blubber

-Iggie’s House

-Starring Sally J. Freedman as Herself

-Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing

Betsy Byars

-The 18th Emergency

-The Cybil War

-The Night Swimmers

-The Pinballs

-The Summer of the Swans

Andrew Clements

-Frindle

-The Report Card

-Things Hoped For

-Things That Are

-A Week in the Woods

Jean Craighead George

-Julie

-Julie of the Wolves

-My Side of the Mountain

-On the Far Side of the Mountain

-The Talking Earth

Roald Dahl

-Boy: Tales of Childhood

-Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

-James and the Giant Peach

-Matilda

-The Witches

E.L. Konigsburg

-From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

-Jennifer Hectate, William McKinley, and Me, Elizabeth

-My Father’s Daughter

-The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place

-The View from Saturday

Lois Lowry

-Anastasia Krupnik

-Gossamer

-The Giver

-Number the Stars

-The Willoughbys

Patricia MacLachlan

-Baby

-Grandfather’s Dance

-Journey

-Sarah, Plain and Tall

-Skylark

Katherine Paterson

-Bridge to Terabithia

-Flip-Flop Girl

-The Great Gilly Hopkins

-Jacob Have I Loved

-Lyddie

Gary Paulsen

-The Cookcamp

-Dogsong

-Harris and Me

-Hatchet

-Woodsong

Margaret Peterson Haddix

-Among the Enemy

-Among the Hidden

-Don’t You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphrey

-Double Identity

-Running Out of Time

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

-The Agony of Alice

-Alice in Rapture, Sort Of

-The Boys Start the War

-Saving Shiloh

-Shiloh

Louis Sachar

-Holes

-Sideways Stories from Wayside School

-Sixth Grade Secrets

-Small Steps

-Wayside School is Falling Down

Jerry Spinelli

-Knots in My Yo-Yo String

-Maniac Magee

-Stargirl

-There’s a Girl in My Hammerlock

-Wringer

E.B. White

-Charlotte’s Web

-Stuart Little

-The Trumpet of the Swan

Name_______________

Book Bunch Reading Interest Survey

1. What is/are your all time favorite book(s)?

2. Who are some of your favorite authors?

3. What good books have you read lately?

4. When you are choosing a book to read, what is usually the most important factor in determining your selection?

-book cover

-author’s reputation

-hearing about it from others

-if it has been or is being made into a movie

-reading the summary or a sample page

-other ____________________________________

5. What type(s) of genre do you like best?

-historical fiction -biography

-realistic fiction -series __________

-fantasy -funny stories

-science fiction -nonfiction (subject) ____________

6. Who is your favorite character? ___________ From which book? _____________________

7. Do you have any suggestions for what the Book Bunch should read?

8. Why do you want to join a book club?

10. Do you have any questions for me?

Book Club Discussion Guidelines

1. Arrive on time.

2. Take turns sharing thoughts and ideas, don’t interrupt.

3. Come prepared. Read your book and have 3 discussion questions.

4. Help clean up.

5. **Respect the opinions and ideas of others. There are no right or wrong answers. **

Guidelines for Choosing Books

1. Start with introductory list.

2. Ask for any additional suggestions to be added.

3. Additional suggestions should be made with a brief plot summary and brief explanation of why we should choose that book.

4. If Mrs. Marshall is unfamiliar with the title she will need a few minutes to research it online to make sure it is age appropriate.

5. Everyone vote for 2 titles (on paper).

6. Tally the results.

7. Vote again, only for the top three “vote getters”.

8. The book with most votes will be next month’s book.

Guidelines for Choosing the Next Student Leader

1. The new leader will be chosen after the new book is selected.

2. Ask for volunteers. (Being the student leader is voluntary. Students can participate in the club all year without leading if they choose.)

3. Students that are interested can give a short statement about why they would like to lead the book discussion next month.

4. Members vote on paper. The top “vote getter” is the next leader.

5. No one will be leader a second time until everyone that wants to lead has had an opportunity.

6. If there are no volunteers, Mrs. Marshall will lead the next discussion.

Introductory Meeting Agenda

1. Invite them to help themselves to snacks and drinks.

2. Introduce myself.

3. Let them take turns introducing themselves and tell favorite genre and favorite book.

4. Distribute reading survey and ask them to fill it out.

5. Discuss what a typical meeting will be like.

6. Discuss leader responsibilities.

7. Discuss how books will be chosen.

8. Distribute book list. Ask for additions.

9. Vote. Then revote for top three. Announce winner.

10. “Assign” book and ask them to come up with 3 relevant discussion questions for next month’s meeting.

11. Distribute note cards to those that are interested in joining and ask them to record name, address, phone number, parent names, email address, homeroom, and food allergies.

12. Thank them for coming and tell them I hope to see them next month.

First Book Club Meeting/Discussion Agenda 4:00-5:00

4:00-4:10 socialize and snack

4:10-4:40 discuss From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

Discussion Questions

Who do you think has a better reason for running away, Jaime or Claudia? Why?

Who do you relate to more, Jaime or Claudia? Why?

If you could only use one word to describe Mrs. Frankweiler, what would it be?

Have you ever been affected by a piece of art or music the way Claudia was?

What do you think Claudia is hoping to learn/gain by running away? Does she succeed?

Would you rather run away to the museum in the book or the Cincinnati Children’s Museum? Why?

This book was actually written many years ago. Do you think it sounds current?

If you did run away like Claudia and Jaime how do you think your parents would react upon your return- angry, relieved, proud, other?

What is the significance of secrets in this story?

If you ran away, would you rather take Jaime or Claudia? Why?

4:40-4:55 Choose next book and next leader.

4:55-5:00 Clean up.

Student Leader Duties

1. Provide snack. (Mrs. M. will always provide drinks and paper products.)

2. Come with a list of discussion questions.

3. Help set up for book club meeting immediately after school.

4. Lead book discussion at meeting.

5. Help clean up.

Generic Discussion Questions

What was your favorite scene?

Which character do you find to be the most sympathetic?

Do any of the characters remind you of yourself?

Do any of the characters remind you of someone you know?

Do you find any of the characters unbelievable?

Did you notice any symbolism in the book?

What did you think was the funniest part?

Will this book “stay with you” for a long time?

Who do you think had to make the most difficult choice?

Would you have made the same choice?

What character do you think would make the best friend?

Would you recommend this book to a friend?

Did this story open your eyes about anything? Did you view anything differently after reading it?

Did you learn anything from this book?

Did the book leave you with any questions?

Were there any surprises in the book?

Was the setting that important to the story or could it have happened in a different time/place?

If there was a sequel would you want to read it?

Ways to Evaluate Success of the Book Club over Time

I would consider the book club successful if…

-most of the original members stayed all year

-membership numbers increased

-I received informal positive parent feedback

-members are willing to broaden their horizons by reading more and different genres than they would on their own

-members are having fun

I would also measure success with an anonymous survey toward the end of the school year.

Book Club Survey

1. Did you enjoy coming to the meetings?

Always Most of the time Sometimes Never

2. Do you have any suggestions to make it better next year?

3. Would you recommend it to the upcoming fifth graders?

4. What was your favorite book we read this year?

5. Did you read anything you probably wouldn’t have read on your own?

6. If so, did you enjoy it?

7. For fifth graders only- Do you think you will join next year?

Yes Probably Maybe No

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