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You are here: Home / freebies / The Evolution of Reading Workshop Book Clubs
freebies, literacy, reading

The Evolution of Reading Workshop Book Clubs

January 29, 2012

I love reading workshop!  My favorite part of reading workshop is doing book clubs with my students.  I’ve tried several different ways over the years.  When I first started, I would meet with groups one at a time.  We’d work our way through the chapters together, taking turns reading aloud and silently. We’d discuss as we moved through the book and discuss questions after each predetermined section.  Groups were usually made of students with similar needs and reading levels. I was the discussion leader and this was more like guided reading than I had wanted.  It worked fine, but I felt like there was more I could do to make it mirror real world reading.


Hoping to get more out of these units, I tried assigning the literature circle roles made popular by Harvey Daniels.  I backed off as a teacher and encouraged students to do more independently.  I wanted to be a member of their reading circle, not the leader.  I didn’t prepare discussion questions or activities and I let students determine their reading chunks and deadlines within the unit.  While many of my stronger readers blossomed, this layout just didn’t work for all students.  I also felt like many groups were missing key parts of the books and still not reaching the higher level of discussion I desired.  The roles were too restricting.

I decided book clubs needed to be a marriage of all the things that already worked well for me in reading workshop.  Guided reading is great and students need my support.  Literature circles are more fun, allow students to make more choices, and breathe new life into reading workshop.  How could I put both of those together to achieve book clubs that worked for everyone?  Book club packets ended up being the answer for me.


I started doing book club packets a few years ago.  I select several books within a comfortable reading level for the majority of my students. Sometimes the books share a common genre, theme, or topic.  Sometimes they don’t and are instead just favorites from previous years.  I like to allow students to choose their own book, though this doesn’t always work out.  I create the timeline and generate discussion questions to help guide students through the books.  These discussion questions are used loosely as students gather to discuss their reading and are tweaked through multiple readings of the books with different groups of students.  We alternate days spent reading the book (usually independently though sometimes students choose to buddy read) and days spent doing activities about the book.  I can stagger my groups on alternate days so that I don’t have to be in so many places at once.  While half the students are reading and answering questions, the other half are discussing and creating. The activities they create include character comics, alternate endings, cause/effect charts, etc.  All of them help bring meaning to the books and grow my students as readers.  They’re learning strategies and ideas to take with them on future books, not just working through their current one.  Additionally, I’m able to alternate between being a leader and a member of the group.  This marriage between guided reading and literature circles is my favorite part of reading workshop.

It’s time consuming to research books, read the
individual titles, generate discussion questions, map out the unit, and
create meaningful activities. 
My packets are always evolving, but having a variety of activities to adapt for multiple chapter books has helped the planning tremendously.  I’m including a freebie of one of my book activities.  You can find entire book club packets and a selection of book activities that I’ve created over in my TeachersPayTeachers Store.  I hope they’re what you need to get started creating book clubs that work for you and your students.  Happy reading!


Freebie:
Click here to download two book club activity samples. All 21 activities can be purchased in my store.

book clubs literature circles reading groups
by Christi Fultz 

About Christi Fultz

wife • mom • teacher • writer • tech obsessed • sometime crafter • beach lover | Empowering entrepreneurs through branding & website design

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Comments

  1. LaurieKlee says: September 7, 2013 at 1:12 pm

    Thanks for the freebie! They look great 🙂

Christi Fultz

wife • mom • teacher • writer • tech obsessed • sometime crafter • beach lover | Empowering entrepreneurs through branding & website design

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Some of my favorite childhood memories are making cupcakes with my mom. When I saw the I’m The Chef Too subscription box, it was an easy YES. Almost everything you need is right inside the box each month to make it easy. There are typically about 3 servings, so you make enough for everyone to have one treat without leftovers hanging around.

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It Had To Be Done // When my monthly farm flowers It Had To Be Done // When my monthly farm flowers subscription came on Valentine’s Day, I couldn’t resist. These will bloom over the next few days. 💐
Offering Websites + Logos Since 2012 // When you w Offering Websites + Logos Since 2012 //
When you work with me, I become your digital marketing business bestie; one point person who helps you get it all done and saves you time with a website that will be beautiful outside and powerful inside. Design by Christi Fultz creates logos, installs WordPress websites, sets up email marketing, and offers virtual assistance for creative entrepreneurs. Let’s tackle your to-do list.

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DIY Floral Wallpaper // Charlotte’s first big gi DIY Floral Wallpaper // Charlotte’s first big girl room is one of my favorite places in the house. We let the kids choose their own decor for the new house and Charlotte’s room is a purple and pink dream... no surprise there! 

The DIY wallpaper was probably a “once and done” experience for us and took about six hours for this 9 by 16 wall. More pictures and sources are on our family blog, also linked in bio: https://completelychristi.com/2022/02/diy-floral-removable-wallpaper.html

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I used the online design tool from @containerstorecustomspaces to create this DIY Classic Elfa system. It took about three hours to install and set up. I love how flexible the system is, which means we can reconfigure the layout as he grows. I’m also really proud of his label choices... maybe he inherited some of my organizational skills after all!

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Baking With Kids // There’s icing all over my co Baking With Kids // There’s icing all over my counter and cake crumbles with sprinkles all over my floor. The kids have had a sugar rush before noon, and we LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT. 

Some of my favorite childhood memories are making cupcakes with my mom. When I saw the I’m The Chef Too subscription box, it was an easy YES. Almost everything you need is right inside the box each month to make it easy. There are typically about 3 servings, so you make enough for everyone to have one treat without leftovers hanging around.

Now... who is going to clean up this mess??

#louisvilleky #momsoflouisville #louisvillemoms #louisvillemomcollective #kentuckyblogger #kyblogger #louisvilleblogger #igerslouisville #derbycitymama #bakingwithkids #kidsinthekitchen #familybaking #momentsinchildhood
It Had To Be Done // When my monthly farm flowers It Had To Be Done // When my monthly farm flowers subscription came on Valentine’s Day, I couldn’t resist. These will bloom over the next few days. 💐
Offering Websites + Logos Since 2012 // When you w Offering Websites + Logos Since 2012 //
When you work with me, I become your digital marketing business bestie; one point person who helps you get it all done and saves you time with a website that will be beautiful outside and powerful inside. Design by Christi Fultz creates logos, installs WordPress websites, sets up email marketing, and offers virtual assistance for creative entrepreneurs. Let’s tackle your to-do list.

#wordpressdesign #teacherpreneurs #smallbusinesstips #websitedesigner #louisvillesmallbusiness #lousivilleky #kentuckyblogger #kyblogger #louisvilleblogger #igerslouisville #momsaroundlouisville #derbycitymama #kentuckymom #locallouisville #mompreneur #momprenuerlife #tptseller #creativebusinessowner #creativeladydirectory
Why am I like this?? // I’m already tired tomorr Why am I like this?? // I’m already tired tomorrow, but let’s stay up and watch reality tv.
DIY Floral Wallpaper // Charlotte’s first big gi DIY Floral Wallpaper // Charlotte’s first big girl room is one of my favorite places in the house. We let the kids choose their own decor for the new house and Charlotte’s room is a purple and pink dream... no surprise there! 

The DIY wallpaper was probably a “once and done” experience for us and took about six hours for this 9 by 16 wall. More pictures and sources are on our family blog, also linked in bio: https://completelychristi.com/2022/02/diy-floral-removable-wallpaper.html

#louisvilleky #momsoflouisville #louisvillemoms #louisvillemomcollective #kentuckyblogger #kyblogger #louisvilleblogger #igerslouisville #derbycitymama #diyhomeprojects #diyhome #homedesigninspiration #homeinspo #homemakeover #diyinspo #makehomeyours #kidroomideas #childsroom #childsroomdecor #childroomdesign #kidsroom #kidsroommakeover #kidsroominspiration #kidsroomdesign
Kid Closet // Because we were so happy with our ow Kid Closet // Because we were so happy with our own custom closet, we decided to do my son’s too. We primarily use his closet for off-season storage and toys, but it was always a MESS! Then the mess spilled out onto his nightstand, desk, dresser, building table, and under his bed. He needed a system! 

I used the online design tool from @containerstorecustomspaces to create this DIY Classic Elfa system. It took about three hours to install and set up. I love how flexible the system is, which means we can reconfigure the layout as he grows. I’m also really proud of his label choices... maybe he inherited some of my organizational skills after all!

#louisvilleky #kentuckyblogger #kyblogger #louisvilleblogger #igerslouisville #diyhomeprojects #diyhome #homedesigninspiration #homeinspo#homemakeover #diyinspo #makehomeyours #homeorganization #homeorganizing #closetorganization #organizedhome #organizedcloset #walkincloset #closetgoals #closets #closetdesign #customcloset #closetmakeover #kidroomideas #childsroom #kidsroom #kidsroommakeover #kidsroominspiration #kidsroomdesign
DIY Board and Batten Accent Wall with Display Ledg DIY Board and Batten Accent Wall with Display Ledge Tutorial // Carter’s room needed a punch of color and a place to display his favorite Legos. This weekend project was exactly what I had hoped for! Full tutorial and sources on my hobby blog, linked in bio. https://completelychristi.com/2022/01/diy-board-and-batten-accent-wall-tutorial.html 

#louisvilleky #momsoflouisville #louisvillemoms #louisvillemomcollective  #kentuckyblogger #kyblogger #louisvilleblogger #igerslouisville #derbycitymama #diyhomeprojects #diyhome #homedesigninspiration #homeinspo#homemakeover #diyinspo #makehomeyours #kidroomideas #childsroom #childsroomdecor #childroomdesign #kidsroom #kidsroommakeover #kidsroominspiration #kidsroomdesign
Farm Flowers // I absolutely love my monthly flowe Farm Flowers // I absolutely love my monthly flower delivery. It’s the perfect “pick me up” on a gloomy January day… or any time! As a momma, it’s easy to do all the things for your family. This is one thing I do for me! And since I work from home, it makes my space just a little happier every day. I was initially intimidated by the thought of arranging my own bouquets, but they provide tips and pictures to help. The best part? They arrive mostly in bud form and bloom in your home so you can enjoy each arrangement longer. ✨ Mine usually last 10-14 days. Link in bio to learn more.

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