In short, I am busy: Fact Finders

 The audience for this book club is independent readers, from roughly kindergarten to middle school, who love nonfiction. Even if they don't think they do, they can still enjoy sharing the things they know or learn and working on projects together. I scheduled it a little later, 5pm, and am thinking about potentially having it at 6pm for working parents, but then I'll run into athletics, so I'm still thinking about that.

At the first meeting, I gave the kids a notebook with some initial handouts, including an overview of the Dewey system, the 5 types of nonfiction, and questions to ask while reading nonfiction. We discussed how Dewey works and what our favorite topics were that we'd like to learn about. No surprise, animals were the top choice!

Resources and files are here.

For the first meeting, I had pre-selected our topic - marsupials. I had a range of books from picture books to early readers to chapter books and different types of nonfiction. I booktalked them while they colored their folders and then they each chose a selection of books. There was also a starter handout with questions and suggestions of facts to look for.

I only had two kids at the first meeting, but I saved materials for a couple other interested families/kids and had them available at Bookaneers as well.

In short, I am busy: Bookaneers

making puppets for Mr. Ball

Bookaneers is actually my private homage to China Mieville, but I am not going to tell the 1st graders that.

• Program Goals
• Reach beginning readers
• Collaborate with school reading specialists to meet the needs of struggling readers
• Encourage kids to build reading skills and enjoy reading!

4:30-4:35: Introduction (new attendees and beginning of the year)

• Introductions
• How Bookaneers works
• At the first meeting, or when they attend for the first time, kids receive a binder with a variety of starter sheets. They can get more sheets as needed from me or at the next meeting. They do not have to fill in the sheets for each book, they're just for fun and to help them remember what they read. 
• Books are due at the next meeting. They have a due date taped to the front of each book. Don't forget your library card!
• It's ok if you don't feel like talking about your book or didn't finish.
• It's ok to have a parent or friend help you read and/or write in your binder
• We all read at different levels and speeds. This isn't a contest or a class; we're here to have fun reading together!

4:30 - 5:00: Discussion and craft

• Make/decorate notebooks and bookmarks if it's the first meeting, discuss what books they like and why and what their favorite things are. 
• Otherwise, crafts and talking about our books! Depending on the age and size of the group, there may or may not be a discussion. I tend to read aloud and talk to them more than have a discussion at this age.
• Final meeting of the school year we decorate t-shirts or bags.

5:00-5:15: Booktalks

• I booktalk selections (in the past this was snack time, but we are not serving snacks for the foreseeable future).
• I choose 9 titles total - 3 picture books, 3 early readers, 3 beginning chapters - and have 5 copies of each available. In addition, I will put on display whatever new books I have gotten recently.
• If it's the last meeting of the school year, they each get a book to keep from the prize cart.

5:15-5:30: Choosing books and wrap-up

• Kids pick their book(s) for next time, finish crafts, younger siblings come in, etc.

Evaluation

In short, I am busy: Aquanauts

 

Magicalamity wings

• Program Goals
• Continue book clubs with kids who have aged out of Bookaneers or find the lower books too easy.
• Encourage kids to build reading skills and enjoy reading!
• Audience: ages 9-12

My attendance for this book club (formerly Rock 'n' Read) was dying off before the pandemic started in 2020 and I am trying to revive it starting in fall 2021 with new branding.

4:30-4:35: Introduction (New attendees and beginning of the year)

• Introductions and how it works
• At the first meeting, or when they attend for the first time, kids get a folder or binder with a variety of inserts. They can get more sheets as needed from me or at the next meeting. They do not have to fill in the sheets for each book, they're just for fun and to help them remember what they read. 
• Books are due at the next meeting. They have a due date taped to the front of each book. Don't forget your library card!
• It's ok if you don't feel like talking about your book or didn't finish.
• We all read at different levels and speeds. This isn't a contest or a class; we're here to have fun reading together!

4:30 - 5:00: Discussion and craft

• Decorate folders and bookmarks if it's the first meeting, discuss what books they like and why, their favorite topics, etc.
• Otherwise, crafts and talking about our books! We talk about genres, what they think about the characters, expand on nonfiction, discuss how the books relate to their own lives, how and why they'd recommend them to friends, etc. Sometimes the crafts tie into the books, sometimes they're just what I came up with earlier that day.

5:00-5:15: Booktalks

• I provide 3 copies each of 5 different books, covering nonfiction, graphic novels, fantasy, and realistic fiction. There is also a selection of new books to choose from.
• If it's the last meeting of the school year, they each get a book to take home to keep from the prize cart.

Resources - inserts, title list including a list of crafts.

Evaluation