| Author | |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: May 04 2007 at 11:14am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
We have a new homeschool group in our area and one of the first regular functions they have implemented is a Book Group/Discussion for kids. We missed the first one due to illness and are missing the second by choice.
The first group discussed The Holy Twins for the PreK & K crowd and Mary Fabyan Windeatt's Saint Benedict for the Elem. & Jr. High crowd. We were very sorry to miss this one! 
The second group will be discussing Little Britches by Ralph Moody, which I haven't read but Husband has. We decided not to participate in this one because he felt that this book might be a little too intense for our kids (ages 9,7 &6) (The girls would have totally freaked out at the horses on the trestle.)
My 9 yr. old boy reads like a fiend and well above his grade level, but his maturity level is still that of a third grader. (He might have been a little disturbed by the self-wetting scene.) Husband was also concerned about the imitative behavior aspect.
It looks like this book is a good book, just not for my kids at this age. (Not that his word is gospel, but Michael O'Brien had this book listed as an adult title. Barnes and Noble says 12 & up.)
Let me get to the point:
Those of you who do a book club with or for your kids...how do you do it? Do all ages read the same book? If you do divide the ages, where are the dividing lines? The woman who started the group said that they might be willing to divide into 3 age levels, but would need help. I would like to help, but I have no idea how to do a book group!
Help!
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11 , 10 , 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Dawn
Forum All-Star
Joined: June 12 2005
Location: Massachusetts
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3191
|
| Posted: May 04 2007 at 12:13pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Matilda, we do a Homeschool Book Group - this is our second year.
We meet once a month September through June at a local library, for 1 hour 15 minutes (give or take). There are two age levels: 7-10s and 9-12s (the 9 & 10 yos can go either way depending on reading level and interest). My 7yo is in the younger group, and my 11 yo is in the older group. 5yo stays home with Nana. 
The way we do it is each mother must volunteer to lead discussion once during the year. She may choose any book she wishes and people can decide to come or not. I just led yesterday's younger group with Cricket in Times Square. I had about 5 kids (my son included) and we talked about all kinds of aspects of the book. I had a few coloring/map activities for them and a snack (Lorna Doone's from the story). My older son's group discussed Yang and His Terrible Ear. He enjoyed the book and discussion very much.
Next month I lead the older kids with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I've read it before, but not in a few years, so I need to re-read and refresh my memory, decide what we'll talk about, etc.
So that's probably more than you wanted to know!  We *love* Book Group - and it helps that all our best friends participate. My sons get to see their closest friends at this and a few other activities each month. When I'm not leading, I sit and chat with the other mums - fun! 
__________________
Dawn, mum to 3 boys
By Sun and Candlelight
The Nature Corner
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: May 04 2007 at 12:29pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Dawn wrote:
So that's probably more than you wanted to know! |
|
|
Never! More, more, more please!
What a great idea to overlap ages like that. That just might solve our problem! There are a lot of littles in this group so I think they would want to keep that aspect going, but I LOVE the way you do it!
Thanks!
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Marjorie
Forum Pro
Joined: June 15 2006
Location: Georgia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 230
|
| Posted: May 06 2007 at 7:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Matilda,
We just finished up our book club year and I am working on a LONG post about the nuts and bolts. I'll let you know when I finally hit publish. Maybe this will jump start my efforts :-)
__________________
Yours in Christ,
Marjorie
Lettres de mon Moulin
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: May 06 2007 at 9:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks Marjorie! I will be looking forward to reading that post.
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Marjorie
Forum Pro
Joined: June 15 2006
Location: Georgia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 230
|
| Posted: May 07 2007 at 4:24pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Matilda, I have broken it into two posts due to length and dinner making :-) The first part The Nuts and Bolts of Book Club is up. I will try to write part two in the next day or two. I hope it is helpful!
__________________
Yours in Christ,
Marjorie
Lettres de mon Moulin
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Marjorie
Forum Pro
Joined: June 15 2006
Location: Georgia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 230
|
| Posted: May 09 2007 at 3:49pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Matilda,
I just hit publish on the second part of my book club post. You can find it at The Nitty-Gritty Book Club- Part II - The Fun Stuff.
__________________
Yours in Christ,
Marjorie
Lettres de mon Moulin
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: July 30 2007 at 7:45am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I wanted to say thank you for all the responses and helpful information you ladies offered. I have now been put in charge of the group since the lady who was doing it has been swamped with other volunteer duties.
I wanted to ask... could you recommend some books from your past group experiences? We will have two separate ages... 5-8 and 9+. We would like to choose complimentary books for both ages. For example... the Aug. selection is The Kitchen Madonna and Pascual and the Kitchen Angels. I might need to choose the September books on my own while we work to get a better organization structure in place.
The older children are going to focus a little more on reading and thinking along with little lessons on literary terms. The younger children will explore the book through crafts, games, food, etc...
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11, 10, 9 & 5) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Living Literature
Topic: Book Group for kids?-Request for titles
