Beginning Reader Storytimes and Book Clubs
Do you have a book club or storytime for beginning readers? Thinking about starting one? Consider integrating the key elements and key strategies based on the Fostering Readers Research Review.
Here are some ideas for beginning reader storytimes and book clubs from the Fostering Readers extended activity plans. Read the beginning reader storytime ideas handout for more ideas and details about the following ideas.
Here are some ideas for beginning reader storytimes and book clubs from the Fostering Readers extended activity plans. Read the beginning reader storytime ideas handout for more ideas and details about the following ideas.
- "Holy Reading, Batman!": Read a simple graphic novel and talk about elements such as multiple panels per page, balloons, and emanata. As an activity, invite children to write and illustrate one comic panel based on the book you read, and encourage them to use a balloon and/or emanata.
- It's Raining, It's Pouring!: Include a nonfiction book in your storytime or book club. Before reading, ask children what they know about the topic and what they wonder about it. While reading or after reading, ask children if they were correct about what they knew and discuss if any of the things they wondered were addressed. Consider doing a simple experiment related to the topic instead of a craft. This may be a good opportunity to model using digital resources to learn facts.
- Let's Create!: Talk about how-to books and read some instructions together. Then use the instructions to build something, like a bird house. This may be a good opportunity to model using digital resources to find instructions for building, making, and learning new skills like knitting.
- Let's Tell a Story!: Ask the three Visual Thinking Strategies questions (Get Handouts and More).
- Let's Write!: After reading a book, elicit ideas and write them on a flip-chart to demonstrate. Then, have the kids write and draw their own ideas. Some questions to elicit ideas could be: What questions do you still have about the story? How could the story have ended differently? What if you were a character in the story?
- Mmmm... It's a Text Tasting!: Model book browsing by pointing out what you like and don't like about a story. Explain how knowing specifically what you like and don't like may help you find the next book you want to read. This is a good opportunity to discuss story elements, genres, and formats.
- A Recipe for Fun: Read a book about cooking or that includes a recipe, discuss the elements of a recipe (title, ingredients, directions, and a result), and prepare food using a recipe. Consider using a recipe to make something that is not food, like slime or play-dough. This may be a good opportunity to model using digital resources for meal planning, cooking, and find nutritional information.
- Stories Without Words: Read a wordless book and write the text of the book together with the kids or model what to do and have the kids write the text independently or in pairs.
Fostering Readers is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services through the Library Services and Technology Act, administered by the State Library of Oregon.