Literary salons, poetry evenings, educational gatherings in city libraries, corporate and school book clubs…
The idea of the literary circle has existed for a very long time in many European countries. And in the pre-revolutionary United States, literary salons were often the beginning of circles and associations united by a particular artistic direction.
Salons used to be a secular phenomenon: interesting and sometimes lucrative acquaintances were made there, and writers first presented their works to the audience.
Now the format has changed: literary circles and book clubs attract a variety of people who get together once a month (or more often) to discuss the book they’ve read. Book lovers want to share their reading experiences. And where else is there to do that than in a team of like-minded people?
It is interesting to know what clubmates think, what emotions this or that book evoked in another person.
Club with a difference.
It is not for nothing that reading clubs are organized even by adults – this intellectual hobby copes with boredom and lack of communication, and also encourages reading as many books of different genres as possible, because each participant has his own taste in literature.
What else is good about a prose and poetry club? Not only will the children notice that they read more books over the year, but they will also learn to debate, analyze the statements of others, and defend their opinions. Finally, they will start communicating more, and communication of interests is known to strengthen relationships between people even more. Many of the kids will be interested in taking the initiative: someone will lead a page in social networks (see below for useful tips for newcomers), someone will be an organizer. Students will develop and improve their communication skills, organizational skills, and ability to work as a team. They will become more sensitive to interlocutors, learn to respect the opinions of others, even if it does not coincide with their own.
Useful tips for beginners
Organize an online book club – it’s especially relevant now, but it will probably come in handy in the future as well. Depending on what book you are going to discuss with the kids, ask them to prepare paraphernalia: for example, if you are going to share their impressions of the next Potteriana novel, have the students wear scarves or ties of the faculty colors.
Try holding your literature class in a book club format. Rearrange the tables and chairs in the classroom, and build the lesson into a discussion group format. Advice with paraphernalia for literature lessons is not always relevant – focus on the works that are planned in the program.
If you are a teacher of literature, don’t rush to become the leader of the club – it is better to appoint an active student who will be interested in such activities.
Make sure that the group does not become completely self-governing – give small recommendations to the students, ask the children if they need help organizing, share their ideas.
At meetings, politely and gently ask leading questions. Your opinions should not be unquestioning.
Maintain a healthy and comfortable atmosphere in which all participants will want to speak and perhaps even argue – an environment with the same interests often distinguishes between supporters and opponents.
Don’t take too many books for one discussion. One, two at most, will be enough. Choose the book to read for the next meeting by voting. If voting is online, create a simple poll in Google Forms.
Schedule a day and time for book club meetings with your students. It’s best to meet once a month so that most kids have time to read a given book. If the kids are united by the same interest, chances are they’ll be motivated enough to read a new book by the next X day. But sometimes the learning load is too much – adjust the day and time of the next session to make sure everyone has time.
An alternative for an online evening is to share e-books or simple recommendations for reading a new work. If the club meeting is in a regular format, be sure to stock up on tea and sweets so the kids can have some refreshments and informal conversations during the breaks. The idea of starting a club should inspire! Don’t force students to make the club another burdensome task that must be accomplished at all costs. That said, don’t be discouraged if your suggestion didn’t meet with the proper enthusiasm from the kids: start by holding a literature lesson in a book club format, try organizing a few classes in this mode. Surely many students will “get a taste for it,” and they will find the idea of a reading room or book club very interesting!