Grade 5 is hitting the books in book clubs this trimester! The students are divided up into groups of three to four students per book club.  The book club format is a change to our routine in literature class which is typically teacher led. Each club is reading, discussing and enjoying their book and completing a coordinating packet. Some of the students love the independent nature of the book club format, while others struggle to adapt. Some of the students have reported that they like feeling in charge and free to move at the group’s pace. Each group has calculated how many pages they need to read a day and how many packet questions they need to answer to finish up the club by mid February. Snow days have already impacted our schedule, but we will make it work! Book clubs require independence, collaboration, patience and responsibility, and of course, reading comprehension skills. It also takes a level of energy to participate in the group and self advocate. Within their group, each member is responsible for sharing their thoughts and perhaps, leading the discussion! During class each day, the students are reading and completing the coordinating packet of thought provoking questions and helping each other to find the deeper meaning of their book.  Poppy feels that keeping up with the reading and packet can be a challenge, but then communicating her ideas adds a whole other level. It’s a new and fun way to read a book in class, but it is also a big responsibility. Pooja likes the book she is reading, she said, “this author has a funny way of saying things which makes me laugh. There was a river that was singing a song. I have never heard a river described like that.” Some groups read aloud, while others choose to read independently and share once they have all completed the reading. One reading aloud group is assigning parts complete with appropriate voices and accents.  Some students simultaneously listen to the book while they are reading. With a variety of opinions, reading levels and thoughts, the students engage in conversation to better understand their book and foster their friendships. Each day, I eavesdrop on their discussions and feel proud of our students for expressing themselves and questioning what they know to be true, while accepting new perspectives. At times, these discussions lead to some pretty persuasive arguments and ultimately, they often agree to disagree. The students are learning to support their thinking using text evidence and feeling so proud of their new skills and independence. Ashima summed up the book clubs by saying, ” I like talking about books with my friends.” Well said, Ashima.