Book Clubs and Differentiation

I think book clubs, especially when each group is allowed to choose their own reading, are a fantastic way to allow differentiation in the classroom. It is so important to remember that each student in every classroom is their own individual person with unique interests and allowing them to explore those interests within specific guidelines of a beneficial curriculum is wonderful. Chapter 9 of Subjects Matter discusses how to get the most out of book clubs in the classroom through techniques such as giving each group member a designated role. This is my favorite strategy because it allows for students to hold themselves and each other accountable while offering an opportunity for every student to be engaged. This is essential in the classroom, especially for those students who might be quieter or shyer than other students. For instance, I was an extremely shy child, and to this day I am much quieter than most of my peers. I would have greatly appreciated having the role of illustrator or connecter when I was in school so that I did not just quietly read and chime in when called on, and because I often found that my group would be off task and it had negative consequences for me. As mentioned earlier, I think it is very important to allow students to explore readings they are interested in, and allowing students to choose their books and their roles I think would be very beneficial for the student, assignment, and teacher. (word count: 248)