Book Club: Beyond the Text ~Where Reading Meets Conversation~6th, 7th, 8th

Is your child an avid reader, or would you like your child to build stronger reading habits? Participating in a book club transforms reading from a solo activity into a shared learning experience. In this engaging book club, your child won't just be reading a book — they will learn to think critically, connect with the text, and communicate their thoughts.

Book clubs are important for students to foster a deeper understanding of literature, enhance communication and critical thinking skills, and promote a love of reading. They also provide a social and collaborative learning environment, allowing students to connect with peers, share perspectives, and develop crucial social-emotional skills. 

Let’s go beyond the text—together. Use code LEARNIPFJG3 to save $3 today!


WHAT TO EXPECT IN CLASS - 

This class meets every other week to discuss pre-selected books. Your child should complete the book before class. Please see below for the upcoming books.

During class, your child will engage in questions about the book. This includes diving into character analysis, theme, writing styles, and point of view, along with sharing their thoughts and ideas. 

While we try to read books appropriate for this age group, we realize everyone has different values. We encourage all parents to research the books chosen for the class. We suggest checking out the books on www.commonsensemedia.org as well as Amazon for reviews. If a student is signed up for the class, this is your approval of the book. 

OUTSIDE OF CLASS -

Before class, your child will be required to read the pre-selected book. Upon enrollment, your child will also receive a Vocabulary Building Through Reading Worksheet as well as a Chapter Notes Worksheet. While these are optional, they are designed to help students get more out of their reading.  

After each class, you will receive a recap of the class in the class communication, and you will also receive periodic feedback on your child as it pertains to their performance in the class. We are also here for you, so please feel free to reach out to us at any time. 

We look forward to being your learning partner and a part of your child's reading journey. 

Here is the book list -
*The Amazon links provided are teacher affiliate links, as we do make a little pocket change when you use the link. This helps us buy more books. :) 

Reading List -
Week of April 21st - Refugee By Alan Gratz

Week of May 5th - The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier 
https://amzn.to/42U02A8

Week of  May 19th - Taming the Star Runner by S.E. Hinton
https://amzn.to/42n3283

Week of June 2nd - A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
https://amzn.to/3GjjyND

Week of June 16th - Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
https://amzn.to/4jFHs4m

Week of July 7th - The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
https://amzn.to/442yRnN

Week of July 21st - The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
https://amzn.to/3GhplmY

Week of Aug 4th - Ghost by Jason Reynolds
https://amzn.to/42SPeCm

Week of Aug 18th - Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodsen
https://amzn.to/42Qvq2q

Sept - Pax by Sarah Pennypacker
https://amzn.to/3EvQqCf

Soldier Dog by Sam Angus
https://amzn.to/3GtQUJG

Amelia Lost: The LIfe and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming
https://amzn.to/44wkQyO

Old Yeller by Fred Gibson
https://amzn.to/3YAuxIQ

Counting By 7's by Holly Goldberg Sloan
https://amzn.to/4lKtxfo

Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar
https://amzn.to/4imveg5

The Unteachables by Gordon Korman
https://amzn.to/4imveg5

The Boy that Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba 
https://amzn.to/4cMdolw

Not Nothing by Gayle Forman
https://amzn.to/4lEO3O8

The Tenth Mistake of Hank Hooperman by Gennifer Choldenko
https://amzn.to/44xnnbZ

The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
https://amzn.to/4lEO8Bq

Lion: Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley
https://amzn.to/3Y8SkiT


Common Core State Standards Addressed in This Class -
Key Ideas and Details:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.1
Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.2
Determine a theme or central idea of a text and how it is conveyed through particular details; provide a summary of the text distinct from personal opinions or judgments.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3
Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
Craft and Structure:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.4
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings; analyze the impact of a specific word choice on meaning and tone
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.5
Analyze how a particular sentence, chapter, scene, or stanza fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of the theme, setting, or plot.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.7
Compare and contrast the experience of reading a story, drama, or poem to listening to or viewing an audio, video, or live version of the text, including contrasting what they "see" and "hear" when reading the text to what they perceive when they listen or watch.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.8
(RL.6.8 not applicable to literature)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.9
Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics.
Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity:
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.10
By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range.