I have started a Book Club with one of my Guided Reading Groups. The Book Club is similar to an adult Book Club, where the process of discussion is emphasized over the creation of a product. Students select a novel to read (I selected their first novel to model the selection process), and then they read the novel independently during self-selected reading time or at home. The group meets two times a week to discuss the novel. At the meeting, each member of the group has a role. Since this type of talk about books will add to the students’ love for reading and help them grow their higher-order thinking skills, I hope to have all students participating in Book Clubs by January.
VoiceThread has been a useful tool with increasing accountability, feedback, engagement, and communication during the students’ Book Club meetings. Indeed, a significant benefit that students receive from Book Clubs is the opportunity to learn/practice communication techniques and active listening skills. 21st learners must be effective oral and written communicators, and VoiceThread allows students to easily record and comment on effective communication techniques.
The extra equipment that I have received through Pinnacle has been invaluable because students are using the Pinnacle laptop, microphone, and headphones during their Book Club. Next week my students will begin using “Audacity” in our Fluency Station. See below for links to download and set up free accounts with Audacity and VoiceThread:
Audacity:
VoiceThread:
