Summer Goosebumps Book Club

In this 15 week Book Club, we will read and discuss five of the all-time bestselling Goosebumps books including Welcome to Dead House, Say Cheese And Die!, Night of the Living Dummy, The Haunted Mask, and One Day at Horror Land, by R.L. Stine.

"Welcome to Dead House"
11-year-old Josh and 12-year-old Amanda just moved into the oldest and weirdest house on the block--the two siblings think it might even be haunted! But of course, their parents don't believe them. You'll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends.
But the creepy kids are not like anyone Josh and Amanda have ever met before. And when they take a shortcut through the cemetery one night, Josh and Amanda learn why.

"Say Cheese and Die!"
Greg thinks there is something wrong with the old camera he found. The photos keep turning out . . . different. When Greg takes a picture of his father's brand-new car, it's wrecked in the photo. And then his dad crashes the car. It's like the camera can tell the future--or worse. Maybe it makes the future! Who is going to take the fall next for the evil camera?

"Night of the Living Dummy"
Lindy names the ventriloquist's dummy she finds Slappy. Slappy is kind of ugly, but he's a lot of fun. Lindy's having a great time learning to make Slappy move and talk. But Kris is jealous of all the attention her sister is getting. It's no fair. Why does Lindy always have all the luck? Kris decides to get a dummy of her own. She'll show Kris. Then weird things begin to happen. Nasty things. Evil things. No way a dummy can be causing all the trouble. Or is there? 

"The Haunted Mask"
How ugly is Carly Beth's Halloween mask? It's so ugly that it almost scared her little brother to death. So terrifying that even her friends are totally freaked out by it. It's the best Halloween mask ever. With yellow-green skin and long animal fangs, the mask terrifies the entire neighborhood. Before long, it has a surprising effect on Carly Beth, too. She tries to take it off . . . but it won't budge! Halloween is almost over, but fright night is just beginning.

"One Day at HorrorLand"
Werewolf Village. The Doom Slide. The Coffin Cruise. These are just a few of the terrifying attractions that await Luke and Lizzy Morris at HorrorLand. Step right up and join the Morris family as they ride each ride--and scream each scream--for the very first time. Because it might also be their last.

Source: Amazon.com

*This is a reading for enjoyment class, though we will discuss literary elements. At the beginning of each chapter, learners will make predictions of what they think will happen. At the end of each chapter, we will review unfamiliar vocabulary words and have a discussion of what was read.

For this class, I will use the teacher read aloud method. Learners will read along silently as I read aloud. On occasion, students who would like to read aloud may do so.

Here are seven important benefits of reading aloud with children:
1. Develops stronger vocabulary. 
2. Builds connections between the spoken and written word. 
3. Provides enjoyment. 
4. Increases attention span. 
5. Strengthens cognition. 
6. Provides a safe way of exploring strong emotions.
7. Promotes bonding.
*source: readingeggs.com

If a student misses a class, I will send a message of the page numbers we covered in class so they can read on their own and stay caught up. 

Each class will have the same routine:
1. In the first class, we will establish main character, secondary characters, setting, point of view (first person/third person), plot, and conflicts. Of course, all these things can change with each chapter. 
2. Each subsequent class will start by reviewing anything important from the prior class, and discussing any pages students had to read on their own.
3. Before each chapter, learners will make predictions, based on the chapter title, what the chapter will be about.
4. At the end of each chapter, and sometimes during, we will review unknown vocabulary, figurative language, plot elements, and anything the learners want to discuss about it. They will also share their favorite part of the chapter and why.
5. At the end of the novel, we will discuss themes and morals.

EVERY student must have their own copy of the book to read along with me as I read aloud. 

The goal is to read 30 pages per class. Students will be responsible for reading any pages we didn't finish before the next class.

This will be a fun, stress-free class where we read great literature and have meaningful conversations.