Saunders Elementary Book Buddies Book Club

1. Saunders ElementaryBook Buddies Book Club Presented by: Renee DiPasquale Saunders Librarian and Brandy Kelly Saunders Counselor

2. BOOK CLUB PROCEDURESBOOK CLUB PROCEDURESBOOK CLUB PROCEDURES 1. Introductions – please be sure to sign in! 2. The purpose of a book club is to: a. Develop stronger relationships with your child and/or the other parents and families in the school. b. Expand family conversations beyond “How was school today?” 3. Meet for 1½ hours: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. a. Begin with dinner and chat time b. Discuss business issues (if any) c. Break up into groups; each group will have supplies/materials to complete an activity – art, writing, or research d. Follow up with a discussion

3. Book Club Procedures • 4. How book club works: • a. Have everyone get into groups – give about 5 minutes for introductions • b. Discuss how groups will run • c. Discuss rules – each group creates their own rules and places them in a folder • d. Activities provided (as needed) • e. Questions provided for discussions.

4. TEN TIPS FOR STARTING YOUR OWN PARENT-CHILD BOOK CLUB 1. Never drag a child to a book club. The idea must appeal to the child. 2. Look for members with interests and personalities that complement each other. Look for members with: a. An interest in reading b. Similar reading skill levels c. Similar ages or grades d. An acquaintance or friendship with someone in the group e. A cooperative attitude f. Comfort with discussion g. An interesting mix of viewpoints 3. Plan activities, crafts or outings inspired by the book: a. Come dressed in period costumes b. Write to the book’s author c. Bring food from cultures represented in the book d. Keep a book club scrapbook e. Visit a site mentioned in the book

5. Book Club Tips 4. Keep the same meeting place and time (we met in the library at 6:30 p.m.) 5. Parents should decide which types of books and topics they are not comfortable reading and discussing in a book club setting 6. Meet monthly, even if you decide to read one book every two months. Meeting consistently is the key (we met every fourth Monday and made adjustments for holidays) 7. Kids love to eat. Make snacks/food part of the club 8. Keep it small. (we had around 20 members) 9. Plan for the meeting to be 1½ to 2 hours (time is needed for snacking, discussion, and activities) 10. Don’t forget the boys! Book clubs attract mainly girls and mothers. Try to include fathers and sons too. From Cheryl Murfin Bond “Start Your Own Parent-Child Book Club” on parenthood.com

6. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS • What did you expect the story to be about? • Did it turn out that way? • What did you think of the characters? • Who was your favorite? • Which part of the story did you like best? • Where do you think the story took place? • What do you think it would be like to live there? • What did you learn from the story?

7. Saunders Books and Activities 2006-2007 • Anyone but Me (Katie Kazoo Switcheroo) by Nancy Krulik – Make a yellow wishing star and write your wishes on the star. Decorate the star and tie it with ribbon or yarn. • Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White – Match and label spider body parts using the “Some Spider” activity sheet. Take the “Spider Find It” quiz. • Flicka: The Movie - Novel by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfield – discussion group and Saunders family movie night with a fund raising drive for the “Save the Mustangs” campaign. • Frindle by Andrew Clements – the only book with the whole Book Buddies Club activity. a. Month 1: whole group discussion with an oral reading of Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll and a reflection on made-up by children. Answer discussion questions found in the back of the book. b. Month 2: book club students invent their own made-up words and vote on the top three. The whole school votes on their favorite of the three. All words are featured on the Saunders Morning News Show.

8. Activities • Only Emma by Sally Warner and Jamie Harper – Make a 3-D poster of Emma for the library. • Ready Freddy: King of Show and Tell by Abby Klein and John Mckinley – Make a pinecone peanut butter bird feeder. Follow the instructions in the back of the book. • Ready Freddy: Tooth Trouble by Abby Klein and John Mckinley – Make a tooth pillow following the instructions in the back of the book. • The Secret School by Avi – Discussion questions only. • The Spray-Paint Mystery by Angela Shelf Medearis and Robert Papp. Discussion questions only.

9. How Saunders Elementary Developed the Book Buddies Club • Developed by Leslie Wilson – Title I Parent Involvement Specialist. She used Cheryl Bond’s book club model. • Barnes & Noble Jr. staff picked out 10 popular children’s books available in paperback. • On PTA “Back to School Night” in September, students signed up in the library for their favorite books out of the ten presented. • The book club was advertised during “Back to School” night and later a flyer was sent home. • The top four books were chosen and students/parents were divided into four groups.

10. How Saunders Developed its Book Buddies Club, cont’d • October: The first meeting was the fourth Monday of the month. Pizza, chips, cookies, and lemonade were provided by Saunders. The books were also provided by Saunders. Ms. Wilson discussed book club procedures with participants. Parents/students chose the activities they wanted to use with their books. • November: Parent/student groups began selected activities. • December: Saunders held a weekend book fair at Barnes & Noble and book club members selected their four favorite books. • January and February: Parents/students discussed books and worked on group activities using books chosen at Barnes & Noble in December. • March and April: Whole groupactivities were done using the book Frindle. • May: For the final meeting, Saunders had a catered Italian dinner (prepared by a Saunders parent) and members created books using the Scholastic Make a Book kit.

11. Funding Suggestions • Title I • Library Funds • PTA • Grant Monies • Other

13. Anyone But Me Katie Kazoo series

16. King of Show and TellReady Freddie Series

20. Only Emma

22. The Secret School

23. Birthday Bash

25. Frindle

27. Made upWord Winner

28. Closing Celebration

32. Make a Book