Aug 21, 2017 ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. Before each book discussion meeting, i use the resources listed above to preselect five or so books that i think the group including myself will. Put together a list of questions about the reading that you can use to get the discussion started, or to prompt the group if discussion starts to lag. I turned each comprehension strategy into a job to be completed in a student book club or literature circle. It is a good idea to plan on finishing the book a little earlier than you might otherwise so that you have time to think about it and prepare before your book club meets. Select a number of questions, write each on an index card, and distribute. Students can also be involved in selecting texts for their book club to study and discuss. And somehow the experience is not complete until youve shared your thoughts with someone else that has read the book. The second being an environment that did confront the brutal facts and where people had a tremendous opportunity to be heard.
Actively engaged participants are more likely to recall and use the information outside of the confines of the training. Take notes or mark passages that strike youpassages you find significant, funny, or insightful. Facilitating group discussions stanford university. Everyone both teachers and students know how deeply dispiriting a lifeless class discussion can be, and, too, how powerfully the best discussions can lure everyone present into a deeper and more enduring commitment to. The first being an environment that did not confront the brutal facts and where people and the truth were not heard. Whole class discussions are, after lecture, the second most frequently used teaching strategy, one mandated by the common core state standards because of its many rewards. Ten tips ideassuggestions for facilitating discussion based on my observations as a teaching assistant, teaching fellow, and assistant professor at boston college, 2000present.
Facilitating discussions is available in print while supplies last. In my class, unprepared students read the pages in class before joining their group. Start with why by simon sinek was the topic of the night. Facilitating discussions videos are organized into three submodules. If you want to discuss the book and then do something else, make sure you have your other activities planned.
We dont even have to get through all of the material in each meeting. However, when book clubs are not going well, teachers need to intervene with. If you are planning to facilitate a book club or reading group discussion, here are a few ideas to help your discussion go smoothly. Others have been so stimulating that i was sad to see them end.
Tips for facilitating a group discussion small groups. Some clubs hold book discussions first and invite social members to join afterward. Considering two questions will help you work out the most effective ways you can facilitate discussion for your book club. If youre ready to start a book club, heres 40 of the best book club questions, for fiction and nonfiction alike. Research tells us that the best way to remember new ideas and put them into action is to share our thoughts and ideas with. As a facilitator, you are responsible for ensuring that the discussion is productive and inclusive. Facilitating discussion screenings and interactive trainings are more effective than lectures because the participants involvement and experiences are actually a part of the learning process. The following are just a few strategies that instructors have found useful.
Here are some tips and insights about what has worked well for me. Some have been boring, stifling or tedious enough to put me to sleep. Ten strategies for facilitating productive discussions are listed below. These benefits, however, do not manifest without a skillful and knowledgeable. Whether youre considering a classroom book club for the first time, or are already. How to facilitate meaningful online discussions in elearning. Insist that discussion time be limited to the book. Thoughtfully planned book clubs position learning in the hands of the students and provide discussion tools. Techniques for leading group discussions main section.
Actively engaged participants are more likely to recall and use the information outside of. Litcourse 3 has a good discussion of close reading. Learn about moderating a panel discussion, facilitating a brainstorming meeting, leading a problemsolving discussion, handling challenging people during discussions, and helping a problemsolving gro. How to start a book club that doesnt suck book riot. Tell students the reading and writing choices they will have after they complete a discussion and journal work. By letting others in the book club answer first, you. Its your turn to moderatelead your book club s discussion. Use specific passages from the book as evidence for your ideas.
Decide on the number of studentled book discussions you will have each week. Book clubs can be used to support indepth analysis and discussion of a variety of texts including literature, historical accounts, movie clips, and lyrics. Introduce the purpose of the discussion and ensure that the participants have the same understanding explain the organization and structure including the time line of the discussion, when it will end, and whether or not there are formal followup plans. Be aware of cultural, social, gender and other differences.
You will discover other methods for employing group work that best match your own teaching style and your students needs. The book club is useful for increasing childrens interest in reading and for developing their confidence, particularly in relation to interacting with others in a group. Additionally, a videotape of case discussion in progress, in which those techniques are demonstrated and modeled by. Discussion is a powerful way of learning, exploring and integrating the five invitations.
Adult programs will be starting up again soon, and this year will be my third year leading our small but dedicated book discussion group. We encourage you to read and contribute at your leisure. Jun 24, 20 whole class discussions are, after lecture, the second most frequently used teaching strategy, one mandated by the common core state standards because of its many rewards. This may seem obvious, but it is the most important step, so it is worth stating. But it can be overwhelming to find great book club ideas. On the following pages, youll find information on how to create and facilitate an effective discussion group, questions relevant to each individual essay, and thematic. Online learners have the opportunity to interact with their peers and share elearning experiences, even if they live on different continents. This is a literary analysis technique called close reading. If youre looking for a fun, relaxed and often entertaining way to expand your social circles and your literary prowess, few methods can compare to the book club. The mcgraw center for teaching and learning 328 frist campus center, princeton university, princeton, nj 08544 ph. The first strategy for facilitating online discussions is to develop and maintain a social presence in discussion forums. More often, though, they discuss reading materials at their independent levels, in literature circles and book clubs. Feb 08, 2016 10 ways to make book clubs fun and not intense because were all already busy.
Will each student talkwritefacilitate a certain amount. Handling challenging situations objectives select a problem and ask club members to discuss and resolve it by either a majority vote or by compromise. When were facilitating in our small group, our main goal is to create discussion. Home table of contents leadership and management chapter 16. As joseph addison said, reading is to the mind what exercise is to the brain. Tell us about the book you read and the memorable discussion it provoked. Aug 07, 2016 how to facilitate meaningful online discussions in elearning. At classy, several of our departments participate in quarterly book clubs in order to. Classroom footage, student testimonials, and interviews with featured faculty present a range of moves designed to lead more thoughtprovoking, equitable, structured, studentcentered discussions. Choose one question at a time and toss it out to the group. Facilitating effective discussions centre for teaching. How to lead a successful book club discussion bookbrowse.
Ive found that the best book club discussion questions are ones that are openended and that get people to share their personal opinions. The retention levels of children for the duration of the book club are also found to be particularly high with the majority of. Ten tips ideassuggestions for facilitating discussion. Facilitating effective discussions initiating and sustaining a lively, productive discussion are among the most challenging activities for an instructor davis, 1993. Facilitation styles and goals are different, and can be flexible to meet the book club s goals and work most effectively with the groups personality and relationship dynamics. Facilitating discussion in humanities and social sciences. Encourage participants to speak openly and listen generously. We dont have to lead the perfect discussion every time. Meaningful online collaborations can also improve knowledge retention and social learning skills. May 09, 2017 7 tips for leading a lively book discussion group.
Youll also find printable book club questions at the end of this post to bring to. Framing the discussion, balancing and pacing, and responding to students. Ive been looking for ways to make book clubs less static and academic. On the following pages, youll find information on how to create and facilitate an effective discussion group, questions relevant to each individual essay, and thematic conversation points for higherlevel discussions. Reading strategies book club packet by kristine nannini tpt. If you want a more interactive discussion consider a critical thinking activity such. If you want a more interactive discussion consider a critical thinking activity such as a case study or debate. Each member or a team of 23 takes a card and answers the question. Learn about moderating a panel discussion, facilitating a brainstorming meeting, leading a problemsolving discussion, handling challenging people during discussions, and helping a problemsolving. We are now facilitating discussion on the book powerful teaching.
Strategies for discussion national council of teachers of. Resources for business books clubs and leadership learning groups. Facilitating discussion toastmasters international. If youve ever dreamed of starting a book club, but worried you didnt have the right space to do it in, weve got some great news for you. Every book club member has a few great book discussions that stand out in their mind whats yours. Here are some strategies that will help you prepare for and lead an effective discussion.
The retention levels of children for the duration of the book club are also found to be particularly high with the majority of children attending each session. Use a blog or discussion forum to allow students to both reply to your prompt and each other. This book club or literature circle packet uses the six reading comprehension strategies in a book club or literature circle format. This group is a discussion from summer 2018 about the book make it stick. We have 7 tips to help you lead a great book club discussioneverything from book discussion questions, prompts, games, handouts, even index cards. Dec 10, 20 classroom discussions have been a staple of teaching forever, beginning with socrates. Group discussions are common, and this manual provides instruction in facilitating the most common types of discussions. I have taught using discussions, been a student in discussions, and observed other teachers discussions thousands of times at least.
Texts can be assigned based on student interests, reading level, or learning objectives. Last night, i had the pleasure of facilitating the 1st discussion group of the pt book club started by updoc medias own, dr. Consider the consequences of being unprepared for a book discussion. Apr 22, 2016 if you are planning to facilitate a book club or reading group discussion, here are a few ideas to help your discussion go smoothly. A book club can be a great way for your staff to push themselves to continue to learn. Over the past 15 years, the field has begun to tackle the problem of providing teachers with guidelines and tools to support the facilitation of productive classroom discussions. When you are asking questions, you want to facilitate discussion, not come off as a teacher. Minilessons that support effective book clubs center for the. Facilitating online discussions effectively sciencedirect. Even if your members are used to being part of group discussions and. Its your turn to moderatelead your book clubs discussion.
If you have any suggestions for questions other book club members can use in their discussions, share those, too. Facilitating an effective discussion is a valuable skill that enhances both your leadership qualities and your ability to think through material. Starting a business book club good books challenge. Starting a business book club university of michigan. You can help your organization become a learning organization in which people continuously grow and develop. Popular facilitation books meet your next favorite book. The book club gives employees the opportunity to step up and practice leadership roles such as leading a group discussion or presenting to provide an overview of a chapter.
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