Jan Turbill, Susan McAuliffe and Brett Sutton 2015
Turbill, J. Barton, G. & Brock, C. [eds] Teaching Writing in Today's Classrooms: Looking back to look forward, pp 181-197 published by ALEA
This chapter reports on how three educators set up a successful Book Club, that involved students in Grades 4, 5, 6. The Book Club is a one hour highly structured session held each week and engages students in reading novels, poetry, play writing and exploring picture books. Students learn to ‘read like writers’ as they focus on how published authors use language to engage their readers. Each hour involves students reading, exploring language and writing. Book Club principles are based on sound research evidence and clearly made explicit to students as they begin to learn the many language devices effective writers use. Each session provides time for students to try these devices in their writing. Over the year students’ evaluations demonstrate their growth in confidence and skills as readers and writers.
This chapter is one of 20 excellent chapters on the teaching of writing in the book published by ALEA.