The Benefits of a Book Club
September 16, 2021
By:
Laurel Curtiss
The books I love, someone else loved first.
The Old Man and the Sea: My dad took me to Borders to pick it out, because his dad read it to him as a kid. He read it to me every night for weeks.
Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing: One of my first chapter books. My mom reread it every month for book reports when she was in third grade. It never occurred to her to pick out a different story to do her reports on, she had already found one she loved.
The Count of Monte Cristo: I first read a dogeared, tattered copy with the binding coming undone and my mom’s name scrawled on the inside cover. My grandpa dubbed the book “well loved.”
Books have forever been used to bring people together, to build community. “The success of communities is dependent on how well people live and learn together: life is more entertaining and enjoyable with others. Communities are built through conversation, which enables a community of contagious learning where the enthusiasm and struggle is shared (Petrich, Conversations Inspiring Community).” Many have found this community through conversations surrounding books. Mysteries entice us, fiction captivates us, and the classics unite us.
In recent years, celebrity book clubs have become all the rage. Sarah Jessica Parker, Emma Roberts, and Shonda Rhimes have all gotten in on the scene encouraging fans to read more, simultaneously supporting authors and uniting people through literature. Reese Witherspoon’s book club even enables its members to participate in the community by rating books, tracking what books they’ve read, and writing reviews on an app with the motto: “Every book, everyone’s invited.”
Book clubs have become more accessible than ever before since quarantine. Virtual book clubs hosted through Zoom, Webex, and even Twitter popped up all around the world. For many, participating in a book club became the highlight of their week, providing them with discussions and connections to look forward to. Some established clubs even doubled in members. During times of trouble and uncertainty, books offer an escape, and connecting with others through those books offers a sense of support and companionship.
Research has shown that students benefit from the experience of participating in book clubs with their classmates; higher levels of learning are acquired, and social skills are developed. In fact, the quality of dialogue of students who participate in book clubs is often strengthened by discussion within the classroom community. Students learn that accountability is vital and that challenge is necessary for academic growth, and they apply these lessons to other aspects of academics. The book club format allows students to connect with their peers and be in control of their learning. With the proper encouragement to be motivated learners, students begin to challenge each other by exchanging points of view and ideas about what they’ve read.
Take a backseat while your students delve deeper into readings, discover new insights, and connect. Use discussion starters provided by Kendall Hunt's Navigators Heritage Series to get the ball rolling on self-motivated learning and community-building.
Conduct a book club in your classroom that inspires discussion and motivates students to challenge themselves with the help of their peers. With the support of Navigators, students are free to make connections with the content as well as with their classmates.
It is when we treat reading as something to be discovered and explored, rather than an obligation, that students truly develop a love of reading. With Navigators, students are encouraged to delve deeper into literature and engage in book club discussions that build community. Reframe literature and inspire reading with these cost-effective novel study guides. Learn more.
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