March 14th- Kelcie

BOOK CLUB!!! I loved this as a student, and feel it is an awesome way to make students really feel in control of their learning. Helping students get excited about reading has been something I am nervous about doing as a teacher. I completely understand how hard it can be to enjoy reading for school, and how annoying it can be to read things that you are just not interested in. After reading the Salna and Raphael articles, I have realized that presenting literature in a way such as Book Club can really promote students to make their own choices about reading, but in a controlled setting. For example, using a browse box that allows students to chose their own books obviously kept the students interested, but all of their options were carefully chosen and focused on the current theme. I fear that my students wouldn't choose books at all, but giving them options of all kinds and changing up the themes seems like a really positive way to encourage positive participation.

When the Raphael article discussed why Book Clubs are so integral to student learning, I was skeptical at first. I wasn't convinced that teacher's couldn't employ a different strategy that would benefit the students in a similar way. I then read, "language use is fundamental to thinking." I could not think of any other way than a Book Club that really made use of discussions as a way of learning in literacy instruction. Of course I have seen discussions as a class where the teacher calls it a discussion, but it really becomes a question and answer session with students answering the teacher's questions. Book Club, however, turns the discussion into a rich and meaningful experience which promotes student learning.

Raphael claims that Book Club was designed to "incorporate skills and strategies associated with reading acquisition and critical thinking required for living in and contributing to a democratic society." While I personally think that statement is hokey and built to sound impressive, I also feel that it is based on valid principles. Utilizing strategies like Book Club allows for meaningful discussion that is not pretentious or of poor quality. It allows for students to become invested in their literature, and really places the emphasis on the literature and not the questions. I love the idea of students enjoying and choosing to participate in something like Book Club, because it allows me to know as a teacher the student is invested and interested, not bored and only involved because they must.