Here’s a HIT to the Lunch Book Club question. Thanks for your great
ideas. We’ll start ours soon.
See my original question below and the replies.
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2007 23:10:18 -0400
From: Jayne Dambman <jdambman@CVAI.ORG>
Subject: ELEM: Lunch Book Clubs
I would like to have my local public children's librarian run a lunch
book club for our 4th grade students - an idea for building a
connection to the public library. I was thinking of having her come 2
times a week for about 6 weeks or so and read aloud to the small group
for about 20 minutes. Students have recess before lunch. They would be
eating while she reads. After lunch, they go back to their classrooms.
I am wondering if any of you have had a lunch book club in an
elementary setting and what made it successful or if you encountered
some big problems. Lunch is a social time. I am wondering if it will
cause problems for students in their afternoon classes if they are
sitting still and listening at lunch. Please email me your experiences.
Thanks.
Jayne Dambman
Library Media Specialist
Chestnutwold Elementary School
School District of Haverford Township
630 Loraine Street
Ardmore, PA 19003
Email: jdambman@cvai.org
******************************************************
First I would like to commend you for taking the first step to building
a relationship with your public library. If all school librarians were
as welcoming as you:) I wish you the best of luck and hope that you
have success recruiting the librarian to come to your school.
Last year I approached an elementary school blocks from my library
branch about doing a lunch book club and it was well received by the
4th grade teacher, principal and students. Prior to beginning I asked
the students to complete a permission slip which included their name,
and either books/genres they were interested in reading during the book
or their all time favorites. At the first meeting I talked about
expectations, initiated icebreakers, booktalked several titles and
provided snacks (this helped a lot). Our group met every other week. I
would meet the students in their classroom before lunch, we would walk
to the lunch room, then all walk to the library for our meetings
together. I also walked the students back to their classroom once lunch
book club was over. I informed students that once they came to the
library they would have to stay to prevent wandering through the
school. Didn't want to have the school staff second-guessing letting me
into the school.
Anyway I had anywhere from 12-15 students for each meeting. I did lose
some students to recess on warm, sunny days, but for the most part the
same students attended. I was also surprised at the number of boys that
were interested, but very welcoming to encourage their continued
attendance. I never had any complaints from the teacher regarding
behavior in the class during the afternoon.
Unfortunately I was unable to continue this year due to being
short-staffed at my branch, and this has been disappointing because
when I see some of the students they ask when I am going to do the book
club again. On a positive note, after the lunch book club I did see
several of the students start coming to the public library. It's such a
wonderful feeling when you make a connection that pays off in so many
ways.
I hope that you are successful in recruiting a librarian to do a book
club. However, if she is not able to commit to an ongoing book club,
maybe she would be willing to come in every few months, or in the fall
and spring to book talk for the 4th graders. I'm sure the two of you
will be able to brainstorm other ideas.
Something else that I do is monthly readings in all of the classrooms,
ECE-5. This is something I look forward to and the children also. It
gives me a chance to promote the library, our programs and resources,
and share great literature. The children have the opportunity to see
other adults promoting literacy and look forward to a special visit. It
also builds a connection with teachers when it is time for Summer
Reading promotion, they feel more comfortable asking for materials when
preparing for unit of studies, etc. I am so pleased that I am able to
help out as I do since many of the Denver Public Schools do not have
school librarians.
Again I think it's great that you are reaching out and hope that it is
appreciated.
******************************************************
Does the librarian have school experience? Just asking, because there
is a
world of difference. I have kids come for lunch on Mondays to listen to
an
audio book that is very well done of Lemony Snicket, while they read
along
with books. I could not believe that 32 kids choose to come, and they
can
continue as long as they listen and eat fairly silently. On the other
hand,
I am fairly loose, because this is a "book club". I had it last year
just
for girls and had less success, but it was fun too.
******************************************************
I have a lunch club for 5th graders. As much as they try to keep quiet
I have to read very loudly and walk around because of the noise from
their food wrappers and the occasional whispers.
******************************************************
I had a group of 4th grade girls,12 to be exact, who
brought their lunches to the library every Wednesday
and we discussed books and had a little "club"
We had a great time. They decided to take one of the
books and turn it into a play and perform it for their
classmates. It was wonderful.
I haven't gotten into it this year, although I have
some 8th graders that are talking about it.
I do a lunch Book Club with 6th graders and they love it. In all my
years of doing it I have only had 3 kids complain about missing recess.
I suggested that maybe Book Club was not for them and they all decided
to forgo recess for just one day a week. Good luck.
In 4th grade, our classroom was a portable shelter and we were unable
to go to the cafeteria to eat that year (too many students), so our
teacher sat on her desk and read to us while we ate at our desks (I
have no idea when she ate, poor thing). It was one of the best memories
of my school career. We heard A Wrinkle in Time and The Lion's Paw,
among others, and I can still remember how much we looked forward to
lunch every day. You couldn't hear anything but paper rustling as she
read. God bless you, Mrs. Kiplinger, wherever you are...
I have a once a month book club for 4th, 5th, and 6th graders called
Chat and Chew. I have three books chosen a month ahead for discussion
and round up as many books as I can for them to checkout (public
library, local college children's library, personal copies, etc.). I
use my associate and one volunteer (retired elementary teacher) and we
have three discussions going at once. Those interested bring their
lunches to the library on the first Friday of each month and we talk
about books and eat for about 25 minutes. It's not much time, but
those that come love it. I get about 1/4 of the possible students each
time, although they aren't always the same ones. My faithful core just
love it and are usually bugging me about what book we'll be doing next
month so that they can get started reading. I have them sign up ahead
of time for the book they'll be discussing so that space can be planned
and so we can sometimes provide something to add to the lunch. At the
beginning of the year I try to choose some books that have been read to
them as a class so that it will guarantee that all students that might
like to come have a chance. We are really scrunched for time, but it's
amazing what we can accomplish with less than half an hour. Good luck
with your plans!
************************************************************
We do lunchtime book clubs. Doesn't work for Kinder, but everyone else
seems to be able to eat and talk about their reading at the same time.
On book club day, kids bring their lunch to avoid spending time in the
lunch line. We eat, discuss, and most of the time the kids vote to
stay and talk rather than go out to recess, which backs up to their
lunch. We use it as a time to discuss rather than read. We've already
read the passages that was agreed on by the group before the meeting.
Book clubs are awesome! They don't miss AR at all!!!
*****************************************************
I do book club with 3,4,& 5 but the kids have to sign up so you get a
manageable group and they really want out of the cafeteria. They love
it! I can't make enough room or provide enough copies. This is a great
idea for a public library and school connection. Bravo!!
I've done it at two schools. At one school it was open to 5th
and 6th graders, and was optional, although they had to commit to
staying
for the whole book. We did it every day, so I don't know how it would be
2x/wk. The kids who chose to come were often outcasts and it gave them
an
alternative to the lunchroom. They were in general a very nice group and
they enjoyed the books. A few got silly once in a while and were sent
back
to the lunchroom. They knew up front that it wasn't a talking/social
time.
At the other school it was with 1st graders. Two could come from each
class and we read only a picture book or two and discussed them. They
felt so special bringing their lunch into the library and eating.
I ran a book club for 4th & 5th grade students during lunch (and recess
if
the group wanted to stay longer) The students enjoyed it - nothing
special - reading and sharing. But, the students felt special.
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