thoughts on second club meeting

My biggest challenge this week was keeping the kids interested. We started reading Three Cups of Tea: the young readers' edition. We took turns reading aloud, breaking to discuss various points in the book (geography, what it feels like to be lost, experiences being in the wilderness, camping, etc). One challenge is finding copies of the book. The library has a wait list for it. I hate to ask parents to buy copies. I may buy four copies and donate them to the classroom. It is an excellent story, and according to Carrie, all over the AMI reading lists. We may explore starting a Pennies for Peace effort with the class after reading the book. The kids are very good readers and seem up to the challenge.

How were your experiences?
Dagny

Second Session - February 20th, 2009

Hi All

We just finished the second session of the reading club. Please feel free to share your thoughts, experiences and opinions.

My thoughts - Today's session was a little less chaotic than the first one - maybe because the book was chosen and we just had to read. A large part of the last session was spent in choosing books:)

The kids read through 3 full chapters. We stopped in between chapters to check to see if we were all in it - got them to draw a picture of one of the characters, walk like one of them, explain what they would do if put in a situation similar to the one in the book etc. For slightly more than half the session, we managed to keep order and attention. But, towards the last 15 minutes, it was a struggle to get people to listen. I am proud of the group, though. We are plugging away.

The plan is to make a play out of the book. Each one of them has chosen a character and will be enacting it out when we finish the book!

I feel it is turning out okay. Please do blog your take on things too.

Thanks

viji