3) We do meet in small groups weekly. Students are still assigned (or choose) a small group of other students – their book club – for the duration of the study. They’ve all read the material and are ready to complete whatever activity for skills building and discussion that I have ready. Since my students read their books out of class, I dedicate every Friday to book clubs. While they are reading out of class, I just want them reading – no busy work to do, etc. Just reading and comprehending. Plus, I really do try to limit the amount of homework they are required to do because, let’s be real, most have jobs, play sports, take extra classes, etc. So, with my reading assignment, I just want them reading. Typically, my students do only one out of class novel per semester. That amounts to about 15-25 pages a week depending on the novel length. They have all read a certain number of pages over the course of the week, and on Friday they come to class ready for a short closed-book quiz. Yes, I give a quiz. (Maybe that could be a topic for another post.) After the quiz, we discuss openly the plot development from this week’s reading, I answer questions, and they discuss and debate, make predictions, and so forth. Next, they move into their small groups, and I have some sort of activity waiting for them to complete that is skills-based. Sometimes they close read a section and discuss. Other times, they are working on symbolism or characterization. During this time, I can visit each group and listen to their conversation because I know they’ve read the text and are now enjoying working together to complete the task. I can enjoy hearing what they say instead of worrying that some people haven’t even done the reading. See more about the specific anatomy of a book club meeting in this new post! Click here!
Also available are ready-to-go units for the following titles:
Speak @ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Speak-Literature-Guide-Novel-Unit-Complete-Plan-232923
Bleachers @ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bleachers-Literature-Guide-Unit-Plan-John-Grishams-Football-Novel-2764052
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings @ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/I-Know-Why-the-Caged-Bird-Sings-Angelou-Literature-Guide-CCSS-1095853
Don’t see your favorite title? You can now build your own book club with my Teaching Literature Bundle!

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To me, what you describe is a pretty traditional novel study. A novel study is a central pillar of the high school English classroom no matter what the current curriculum shift may be. I also have struggled over the years getting the quality of conversation I wanted to come out of the Lit. circle the way it had with the novel unit, and I too implemented a book club. My book club runs after our novel study so that students have had the chance to see the depth they are capable of and that I expect. I my book club, there are still choices and weekly meetings where we use the Faye Brownlie 'say anything' approach. Students are still responsible for conversation notes, but those notes do not equate with roles. Like my own real world book club, I must come prepared! On meeting days, I prepare enough hot water for tea and students can make themselves a cup for their meeting. I use this approach only with grade 11 and 12 because I find they can handle it and have a great deal of success over the years (whereas with 10s and below, I use the method you describe in this post). I sit with groups and participate, and ask probing questions if need be. I would recommend this approach in a setting where critical thinking and communicating are the unit goals. It also works very well with an inquiry question to guide their discussions and then activity choices (or essay)
Hi Miss Bell,
Thank you for stopping by my blog! I love to hear other ideas on novel study. I had gotten so discouraged with novel study for so many years, and now I'm loving what I've been able to accomplish with just a few changes! I'm certain my students would love the tea/coffee idea. Thanks again for sharing.
~Julie
I'm looking for another way to handle independent reading next semester and I've always liked the idea of the book club approach. So, do your students do any other outside reading besides the one novel per semester? So many of my students NEED reading practice, but those are the ones that I consistently see cheating my systems. Or they just don't complete the assignment which hurts their grades. UGH! It's so frustrating.
Also, do your students purchase the books they read for this novel study, or are you blessed with a large classroom library?
Hi Kara!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. We are a block system and are covering so much so quickly, I just do the one book for out of class reading for the semester. I think that works pretty well for pacing purposes. We all read the same book, as I explained above. I'm always adjusting things, but one thing that is consistent is the Friday book club discussions and quiz. They have to read to pass the quiz – they aren't nitpicky questions either. That's the best system I've found that they can't "cheat." Then I always follow up with a prompt or group activity based on a skill. Really the only thing they are doing out of class is reading. Occasionally, I'll send a sheet or prompt home if we run short on time.
I don't have a large classroom library, but I do have several collections and our library does too, so I just use what's here. We did get some novel sets with our textbook adoption several years ago. Occasionally, we will have a grant and I've bought a few classroom sets that way over the years or added to a collection. Sometimes, I ask students to bring their own and donate for extra credit, and other times I've scoured used books stores and bought them myself
I would love to chat more via email!
~Julie
juliefaulknersblog@gmail.com
Love this idea..,just wondering about the logistics. What is happening Monday-Thursday?
Hi! That's a great question! Monday-Thursday, I am covering the other unit I'm working in. I'm also doing daily grammar. So for example, I'll teach my Patrick Henry unit Monday-Thursday. Then, we stop and do book clubs on Friday. It's a nice little break. We pick back up with our regular unit again on Monday! I hope that helps out, and I'm happy to chat more via email if you have more questions!
~Julie
juliefaulknersblog@gmail.com