Discover the joy of reading with Book Clubs and Book Fairs

Scholastic Book Clubs • August 31, 2023 Topicsback to school Book Clubs September teachers

5 Easy Ways to Kick off Your Classroom Book Club

Congrats on joining the Club! We’re psyched you’re here, helping connect kids to the stories and characters they love. By now you’ve handed out the flyers to your students so they can pick out the books they want to read. What’s next? Try these five easy ways to kick off your classroom Book Club.

Build a Book Club HQ

Carve out a dedicated space in your classroom for your Book Club HQ. Hang up the poster that came with your Club flyers. Add a bookshelf or book bins to store your soon-to-grow class library. Lay down a colourful rug or throw pillows where kids can curl up and read. Create a comfy, camp-out-with-a-book spot dedicated to the pure joy of reading—no tests or book reports allowed!

Host a reading party

Celebrate your students’ reading wins in style: with a party! Create a monthly reading challenge for the kids that they can tackle independently (like reading two just-for-fun books on their own) or as a class. If they ace the challenge, throw a party! Let the kids pick songs for your party playlist, decorate with characters and book covers cut from your Clubs flyer, and invite the principal to stop by to cheer for your readers.

Bring favourite characters to life

Ask your students to create their own takes on their book BFFs. Whether they draw, paint, or cut and paste, this crafty project offers readers a chance to show off their creativity—and make Dog Man, the Baby-Sitters Club, Fly Guy, or another popular character their own. Then invite them to “introduce” their creation to the rest of the class!

Organize a show and tell

Once a week, make time for students to share books they love with the class. Whether they bring their fave read from home or handpick a title from your library, celebrating their book choice encourages kids to take pride in the stories they love…and piques their classmates’ interest in new-to-them reads.

Give kids a vote

Got a Bonus Bank Rewards balance burning a hole in your pocket? Let your students help you shop! Do they want more copies of that series they love? New goodies for the prize box? Bean bag cushions to flop on during quiet reading time? Kids love when grown-ups ask their opinion…and they’ll take pride in classroom resources they helped you pick.