Classroom teaching and learning must constantly evolve and look different. In order to do that, teachers must differentiate materials assigned and given based upon the classroom environment, size, and skillset of learning needs. Throughout Subject Matters, we have learned ways to challenge and grow our students through various literacy approaches, one specific example being book clubs. Book clubs can be used in all content areas, as we encourage our students to pick up a book pertaining to a specific topic or content area. Book clubs allow students to work together in order to unpack, understand, and learn about a given moment in history, concept, or character's story. It gives a deeper understanding or new approach to a given topic. It challenges the student to ask questions, share ideas, and work together to better understand the book.
Book clubs seem great and extremely beneficial when they are managed well. However, it is easy to identify the ways that a book club might go wrong or even how it might not fit a specific subject. But the book provides an outline to help teachers prepare to lead a classroom and facilitate book clubs and book club discussions. I really liked the practical steps given in the book, in order to create and use a book club in any classroom. I feel that it is crucial for steps, tasks, and jobs/roles to be given to each person within the group, so that one or two people are not pulling the weight for the entire group. I have enjoyed discovering and removing the previous idea that book clubs are typically only used in language arts classes; however, now I can identify the benefits within all subject areas.
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Sarah Ellen,
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you that book clubs can be used in many subject areas. I feel as though book clubs are thought to only be used in lit classrooms. I think that they would be great for textbooks in subjects such as math and history, they would give students a chance to discuss and make connections with passages they have read. This would be a great chance to discuss any confusions or questions they had about the content.
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Similar to you, I was not aware of the benefits for the use of book clubs in other content areas besides Language Arts. However, thanks to Subject Matters, I now know that book clubs can be advantageous for any content area. In using the book club method to promote better literacy in content areas, it is important that every person in the class has a specific role in the book club. This strategy ensures that every student will have to participate, and this strategy helps prevent a few students from carrying the load for the entire class. Because I know about this method, I will use the book club method as one way to teach my future students.
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