Sixth graders at Elizabethtown Area Middle School recently embarked on an exciting literary journey with the launch of the Sixth Grade Book Clubs. The event, held in the school’s library, was hosted by high school Technology & Media Integration teacher Christa Raudenbush, who was joined by a team of ELA faculty members in presenting the books and guiding students through the interactive selection process.
Students were introduced to sixteen books spanning multiple genres, including historical fiction, biographies, non-fiction, and action-packed adventure fiction. Many of the selections were Newbery Medal winners or books that have been adapted into films. Each book was carefully chosen to appeal to students' interests, featuring themes such as perseverance, conflict, bravery, survival, independence, friendship, and redemption.
To generate excitement, the ELA teachers presented each book in an engaging and dynamic way, giving students a preview of the stories and themes. After hearing the presentations, students ranked their top five choices, explaining what drew them to each selection.
Next, students participated in a speed round, rotating through tables that featured their selected books. With two and a half minutes per book, students worked through a process of elimination to narrow their choices to three finalists.
Teachers will now review students’ selections and assign their final book choice, ensuring a well-matched reading experience. Students will then be grouped into cross-team book clubs with classmates who selected the same book. Each club will meet one to two times per cycle, where students will read together and engage in discussions about what they like and don’t like, where they think the story is going, and how the themes resonate with them.
The Sixth Grade Book Clubs are designed to foster a love for reading, encourage critical thinking, and provide students with a collaborative learning experience. Through this initiative, students will strengthen their literacy skills and build connections with their peers through meaningful discussions about literature.
Click the image below for an event slideshow: