Publish at March 07 2022 Updated March 11 2022
The book is an object that represents knowledge very well. Besides, what do the powers that be do not wish certain knowledge to be shared? They place books on the index or, in extreme cases, hold autodafé. Around the world, countries are trying to improve children's education by setting up libraries and reading activities. Nevertheless, many young people don't necessarily find pleasure in reading.
If we say a book club, you may have images in your mind of people 50 and older meeting weekly to discuss a book. We remember when the queen of the U.S. daytime talk shows, Oprah Winfrey, had an incredible impact on the popularity of a book with her "book club" and the seal on the cover. Then, the phenomenon diminished in intensity to the point of seeming outdated in this digital age.
Nowadays, the clubs are back in full swing. This time, it's people on Instagram or TikTok who have revived the desire to read. In the context of the pandemic, while many people were left without a temporary or long-term occupation, some discovered (or rediscovered) a taste for reading. As a result, actresses and celebrities have set in motion clubs to discuss new and old books with their subscribers.
This resurgence of the phenomenon goes hand in hand with a children's literature, in the United States and elsewhere, that offers deep titles, addressing a variety of topics. Whether it's dealing with themes related to different cultures or the realities of people in the LGBTQ+ community, it seems that more than ever, authors are no longer taking young people for dumb. They want to talk to them about issues that can affect them on a daily basis, such as bullying, the difficulties of integration, the acceptance of differences, etc. A rich catalog of topics ideal for a school book club...
The return of this type of activity has something to cheer about for teachers with a desire to share a taste for reading. Especially since it can be done both face-to-face and virtually. Indeed, video conferencing software and various interactive online solutions offer teachers ways to make the activity fun and rewarding. Libraries, too would benefit from recreating this kind of meeting weekly or a few times a month to encourage reading among younger students.
Of course, in the latter case, it's best to have groups that aren't too large so that each member's participation is optimal. Experts will advise groupings of 10 children in the classroom and 15 online. In a classroom setting, it may be a good idea to divide the class into smaller groups and eventually organize feedback with everyone. An important step is the selection of books. This should be done in accordance with the age of the participants and their areas of interest. Between 2 and 3 titles should be suggested each time. This does not guarantee that everyone will ultimately like the choice, but asking them to choose will increase their desire to read it.
For that matter, liking or not liking will be part of the discussion. Those who were not captivated will be able to explain why and hear from colleagues who were. This will put into perspective the different ways of seeing reading, what is appreciated in one and not in another. Obviously, the conversations will not revolve solely around the book's point of view. It will be interesting to ask learners about their perception of the time in which the action is set, how they think certain characters have evolved (or not), the literary style, etc.
It is not necessary to offer only discussion periods. Why not have a drawing workshop where everyone has to draw a protagonist of their choice based on what they understand from the descriptions? Or divide the class into subgroups that will act out part of the plot in front of the others. The limits are only what the teacher will place.
The return of book clubs offers an opportunity for teachers to give young people a taste of reading. This type of activity can be orchestrated in both face-to-face and virtual classrooms, a flexibility that is increasingly necessary.
Illustration : Alexis Brown on Unsplash
Resources:
"Once Obsolete, Book Clubs Regain Their Letters Of Nobility Online." Ladepeche.fr. Last updated April 26, 2021. https://www.ladepeche.fr/2021/04/26/autrefois-desuets-les-clubs-de-lecture-regagnent-leurs-lettres-de-noblesse-en-ligne-9510897.php.
Hanna Wilson, Mary. "15 of the Best Book Club Discussion Questions for Any Book." Mary Hanna Wilson. Last updated: May 30, 2021. https://www.maryhannawilson.com/best-book-discussion-questions/.
Haywood, Laurent. "Virtual School Book Club: Why And How To Create One In 2022." AhaSlides. Last updated: February 10, 2022. https://ahaslides.com/fr/blog/virtual-school-book-club/.
"How to Start a Tween Book Club That Kids Will Enjoy (9 Great Tips)." Reading Middle Grade. Last updated: September 25, 2021. https://readingmiddlegrade.com/how-to-start-a-book-club-for-tweens/.
"Reading: A Tool For Education And Growth For Children." Share. Last updated: January 29, 2022. https://www.partage.org/actualites/la-lecture-un-outil-deducation-et-depanouissement-pour-les-enfants/.
"Many Hungry Bookworms in Primary Book Club." Observer. Last updated: October 8, 2021. https://www.lis.school/observer/2021/10/08/big-rush-at-our-book-club/.
Murphy, Patricia J. "Read Alouds That Rock: Book Clubs to Love." PublishersWeekly.com. Last updated: December 13, 2021. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/88108-read-alouds-that-rock-book-clubs-to-love.html.
Overstreet, Mikkaka. "Lessons Learned From a National LGBTQ-Inclusive Book Club for Teachers." BOOK RIOT. Last updated: November 24, 2021. https://bookriot.com/lgbtq-inclusive-book-club-for-teachers/.
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