|
From: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children"
<pubyac@prairienet.org>
To: "PUBYAC: PUBlic librarians serving Young Adults and Children" <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 27, 2002 11:01 PM
Subject: PUBYAC digest 722
PUBYAC Digest 722
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Reading Club for 4-6th graders
by "Beth Zambito" <bzambito@poklib.org>
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "Beth Zambito" <bzambito@poklib.org>
To: <pubyac@prairienet.org>
Subject: Re: Reading Club for 4-6th graders
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain;
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 23:45:04 CST
Thank you to everyone who responded to my question regarding book discussion
groups for 4-6th graders. Your ideas and suggestions will really help me in
my planning, for this and future sessions. Here's a compilation of responses
for anyone interested. The websites, book lists and program structure ideas
are great.
Thanks again!
Beth M. Zambito
Children's Librarian
Adriance Memorial Library
93 Market Street
Poughkeepsie, NY 12601
(845) 485-3445 x3329
bzambito@poklib.org
------
From: Pamela Stack [mailto:pstack@vlc.lib.mi.us]
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 2:01 PM
To: Beth Zambito
Subject: Re: Reading Club for 4-6 Graders
Hi Beth,
I just started a 3-5 graders group. I do a program that is part book
discussion part storytime. We read a book together and I give them a
schedule to have the chapters read. Then I have questions about the books
in game format, puzzle format or something fun and then I put them in
groups by drawing numbers and they wind up discussing the book as they try
to work together to solve the puzzle or win the game. If you would like a
sample of my schedule or ideas get me your fax number and I'll fax you a
copy. I have kept 16 kids in my group for a six months now. Take
care.
-----
I have a book club for 4th-5th grade girls. Some of the books they
really liked were: The Landry News (same author who wrote Frindle,
another good choice), Dealing with Dragons by Wrede, Blume's Tales of a
4th Grade Nothing, Regarding the Fountain, and Lowry's Number the
Stars.
Multnomah Library has a GREAT site for book clubs, which includes
questions for specific titles. The link is below:
http://www.multnomah.lib.or.us/lib/talk/yrca/
Good luck!
Jill Patterson, Manager
La Habra Branch Library, OCPL
221 E. La Habra Blvd. California
e-mail: jillpatterson@yahoo.com
TEL: 562/694-0078 FAX: 562/691-8043
--------
Beth,
I'm from CT and each year a list is put out for
children in grades 4-6 to read. They vote in January
on the one they want to be the Nutmeg winner for that
year. This is a state wide award. Last summer I held a
discussion group for the books nominated. The public
library acquired multiple copies and the schedule was
announced ahead so they would know which to read when.
We had it at a lunch time and provided drinks and a
dessert. They brought their own lunch. In any case it
went so well I'm doing it again this summer.
It depended on the book but I usually tried to
provide info on the author and show them other books
they had written. I went to various web sites and
found info to go along with the books - sometimes it
was questions.
Feel free to call or email for any other questions.
It really is fun. I have to run but will email if I
think of anything else.
Pat
Pat Smith, Media Specialist
Pomperaug Elementary School
607 Main Street South
P.O. Box 871
Southbury, CT 06488-2200
------
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 10:48 AM
To: bzambito@poklib.org
Subject: Re: Reading Club for 4-6 Graders
Hello!!
I am a new children's librarian too! I just finished a middle school book
club and I had 4 readers. It was very disappointing but atleast they came
back every week. We read The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin and we did lots of
mystery murder games, we built a model of the tower and I even had my
husband who is a lawyer talk to the kids about the law and their legal
rights.
If you've read the book you will understand the different activities and how
they relate to the story. I really just tried to make it fun. I purchased
paperbacks of the story (too many for my small group) and I gave them a
schedule of what chapters we'd talk about each week. We would start off with
snacks and small talk and then move in to the book discussion followed by
the fun activites and or craft. It was fun even if my first try was a little
on the small side. I hope they will tell friends and then my numbers will
slowly pick up. Good Luck and PLEASE share any great ideas you get.
Thanks! Amber Potter
-------
From: Laurie Scott [mailto:tinpenny2001@yahoo.com]
Sent: Friday, March 15, 2002 1:03 PM
To: bzambito@poklib.org
Subject: Book Group 4-6th Graders
Our group has been enthusiastic about BECAUSE OF
WINN-DIXIE by DiCamillo, ERETH'S BIRTHDAY by Avi,
THE GREAT TURKEY WALK by Karr, BELLE PRATER'S BOY by
Prater, SHILOH by Naylor, THE SECRET OF PLATFORM 13 by
Ibbottson. Upcoming are SAMMY KEYES AND THE HOTEL
THIEF y Van Draanan, JOEY PIGZA LOSES CONTROL by
Gantos.
A lot of libraries are posting book group titles; you
can pull up lists with a keyword search.
--------
My insanely fun 5th-grade book discussion group (more advanced readers) read
and enjoyed:
MANIAC MAGEE by Jerry Spinelli
THE UPSTAIRS ROOM by Johanna Reiss
JOYFUL NOISE by Paul Fleischman
HARRIET THE SPY by Louise Fitzhugh
and I'd also recommend:
THE LANDRY NEWS by Andrew Clements
REGARDING THE FOUNTAIN: A TALE, IN LETTERS, OF LIARS AND LEAKS by Kate and
Sarah Klise
FLYING SOLO by Ralph Fletcher
-Carlie Kraft
YA Librarian
Westminster Branch, Orange Co. CA Public Library
--------
Beth,
Hi! This is my first year as a children's librarian too, and I've started a
mother-daughter book club for grades 3-6 that is very popular so far. You
can see our website at: http://www.pcl.lib.wa.us/MDBC_up.htm.
The most
successful ones have been Because of Winn-Dixie, Ramona's World, Ella
Enchanted & The School Story. They LOVED The School Story. I would highly
recommend any of Andrew Clements stories for quick reads that kids love to
talk about. When starting my group, I used some tips from Multnomah County
Library's Talk It Up! site (http://www.pcl.lib.wa.us/MDBC_up.htm).
It lists
some sample questions, discussion guides and some how-to's. It's a great
compilation.
We usually start out with an icebreaker, a book-related activity ("who am
I"
from characters in the book, book bingo, games, detective games, etc.) and
then move into discussion questions. I end the session by booktalking the
next month's selection as well as other titles "if you liked this..."
We
also have voted on future selections then, too.
Good luck! It's so much fun and the kids love it.
Kristin Arnett - MLS
Youth Services Librarian
University Place Library
Pierce County Library System
University Place, WA
karnett@pcl.lib.wa.us
------------------------------
End of PUBYAC Digest 722
************************
|