Reading Motivation for Fifth Graders - Book Club

In gathering background information on creating an environment that motivated readers. There are many activities and spaces that can be created. These activities connect the reader with the text. Choice of reading for students builds motivation and empowers the reader. Choice also builds respect and rapport with students because it gives them the freedom to choose what interests them to support engagement in their reading journey.

When looking further into what reading motivation looks like, Chat GPT gives many examples of what reading motivation in fifth graders is interest, engagement, confidence, choice, and enjoyment from students. It also gives several pieces of what reading motivation looks like. These include enthusiasm, active discussion, diverse exploration, creative expression, and goal setting. The one example that Chat GPT gave that stood out to me and inspired this blog post was book recommendations. In building a foundation of background knowledge about motivation in 5th graders by introducing the process of creating a fifth grade book club. 

Objective: 

Build a reading community that creates a space to connect and motivates reading for fifth graders.  

Preparation:

    The first step in building a fifth grade book club is to design what you would like it to look like, expectations, and goals. In the article Operation Motivation it states book clubs should remain kid centered. This would involve the club members leading the choices of books covered. The value of a book club is that many engagement pieces of the classroom can be used to discuss and actively engage the group. A book club would also need expectations. To create a safe environment that motivated the group of students to have mutual respect and grow as a group of readers. 

Steps:

- Plan a weekly time to meet and design communication sent out to get the word out in the weekly classroom newsletter, announcements, and print out sent home with the students. The first meeting plan to go over what the weekly book club schedule will look like and the expectations of the group.

- Get feedback from the members and book suggestions to pick for the first book. 

- The second meeting the first book is introduced and the group discusses what they think the book will be about. The timeline of the first book and discussion questions to go over at the next meeting.

- After each book is complete the following week a book celebration with the books theme can take place to celebrate the completion of the book and discuss the next book to read. This continues through the school year until Spring. 

Overview:

Book Clubs have value in connecting students to reading while participating in a group/club activity. Below is a graph showing the frequency and enjoyment of reading and how digital activity has grown in children. Book Clubs offer several advantages for the students involved. Less  digital time, developing a frequency in reading each book and building enjoyment of reading while giving the freedom to choose, ownership, and control to the students involved. Book clubs can be the building blocks to motivate reading with choice and empowerment. 

Resources 

Book Image 

https://k-12readinglist.com/reading-lists-for-elementary-school-children/reading-list-5th-grade-children-age-10-11/

Book Club image 

https://www.twolittlebirdsteaching.com/getting-started-with-book-clubs/

DATA

https://mediaroom.scholastic.com/index.php?q=press-release/new-data-scholastic-kids-family-reading-report-finds-kids-are-reading-less-they-age

Book Club Expectations

https://www.twolittlebirdsteaching.com/getting-started-with-book-clubs/

Where I'm From Poem

I am from Mesquite Texas and time spent on the family farm in East Texas driving dirt roads, pastures, and tractors. 

I am from a family of people I shared moments with. Moments with my parents, two brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. 

I am from scenes of a farm, church, school, singing competitions, musicals.

I am from special moments with cousin camp, traveling with family, driving a tractor, fishing, walks in the country. A yearly trip to the State Fair of Texas.  Special times at church .

I am from smells of fresh air on the farm, chlorine in the pool, aqua net, grandmas house, skin so soft, farm fresh vegetables, cows, and hay. 

I am from the tastes of pot luck, burnt hotdogs, homemade vanilla ice cream, homemade biscuits, tea, and watermelon.

I am from the sounds of fresh spring, cows mooing, splashing at the pool, dogs barking, family talking, mowing, and grandparents praises, Friday night night TGIF. 

I am from family values, church, family time, southern rules , and friends. 

During our trip to Texas we went to the Dallas Zoo. It was extremely hot but so much fun. In the kids play area they had a huge fountain for the kids to play in. I think the boys would have played in it all day.

The giant spider web.

Karson and his Uncle Nathan

We had a fun day in the hot temperatures and on the way home everyone else in the car fell asleep.

In June the boys and I took a trip to Texas. I had not seen my nephew Ryan since Christmas. He is 10 months old now and a very happy baby ready to play. He really enjoyed playing with Kaden and Karson while we were there.

He is all smiles for the camera.

Field Day

Kaden's 1st grade field day

And their off....


Kaden ready to tag his classmates out.

Kaden and Miss Stone his teacher.

Sidewalk Art

At the end of the day Kaden enjoyed a treat.

Now he is officially a 2nd grader.

I have been enjoying this summer with my boys so much that I haven't posted all the end off the school year things and all the fun things we have been doing. The last week of school Karson's class had a end of the year program. Karson really enjoyed his school and is looking forward to going back when school starts.

The class performing.



Each student shared what they wanted to be when they grew up and sang a song.

Karson and his teacher Ms. Gayle.


I am so glad I got this on video because I was so proud of Karson and how far he has come.

Pizza at the park.

Karson had a end of the pizza party at the school playground.

Karson enjoyed the pizza. His favorite food.

Karson saw some of his friends.

Karson and his friend Rivers. I was so nervous for Karson to start school again this year but it has been such a great experience for him. I know Karson will miss it over the summer.

Karson and his teacher Miss Gayle.

Tim's Birthday

The Rangers were here in KC playing the Royals on Tim's Birthday. A big thank you to Joe Gabbard for getting the tickets. It was a great game even though the Rangers Lost. The neat thing about the Kaufman Stadium is you can bring in all the water and food you can fit into a bag. I packed a feast hotdogs, peanuts, chips, and candy. I do love that at this stadium.

Kaufman Stadium

Kansas City is known for all the fountians.

Kaden loves icecream. Frozen custard is so good of course 2nd to frozen yogurt.

Snoopy and Charlie Brown were there.

Karson just wanted to see Snoopy and Charlie Brown from 10 feet away.

Karson playing the puttputt game. Kaden and Karson both won candy.

Eating the candy they won watching the team practice.

They saw a Ranger.

Kaden and I ready for a fly ball. A few came close one landing in the row right in front of me.

Karson was ready to but he kept saying "no more pictures".

It was a fun night. Im so glad Tim got to go I hope he had a wonderful Birthday.

Muffins with Mom

Mother's Day weekend started with breakfast just Kaden and myself at his school then Kaden gave me a tour of his school and gave me a Mother's Day craft he made in class. All other pictures of this event could not be included due to tired eyes.

My Sister-in-law Katherine got these shirts for the boys. Kaden thought they were appropriate for Mother's Day. Love my boys!

A train ride through the mall.

Karson has been working on potty training. Sometimes more than others. Once he met his first goal he knew what he wanted he has been eyeing this ride since we moved here.

He had this smile on his face the whole ride.



I had a very fast walk around the mall as I followed the train watching my big boy ride around.











Isn't he a cutie.

The conductor let him ring the bell.

Now when he tells me he doesn't need to go to the potty I tell him only big boys get to ride the train. He says "Ok Mommy I go".