Book+Club

As a school librarian, I am a strong advocate of encouraging recreational reading in youth. Numerous studies have found that students who read independently for pleasure have higher academic achievement than students who do not. The following two links provide reviews of research on recreational reading and student achievement: "Reading for Pleasure: a Research Overview" "Independent Reading and School Achievement."
 * [[image:feed 2.JPG width="320" height="240" align="left"]] || Book clubs make the beneficial act of independent reading a fun and social activity for students.

I have been the advisor for the BHS Book Club since 2005. Club members help select titles for the club to read, meet weekly, and participate in a variety of activities, including a shared book discussion once a month. The books they select for the club then become part of the general collection, so all BHS students have the opportunity to read these high interest books. ||

Over the years, under my guidance BHS Book Club members have...
 * read to children from the community
 * run a number of successful fundraisers
 * participated and been honored in the Massachusetts Center for the Book's Letters About Literature contest
 * written and published articles for the BHS "Boxer Roundup" in //The Brockton Enterprise//
 * created entries for the Massachusetts School Library Association's bookmark contest
 * Skyped with a young adult author
 * co-hosted a poetry slam with the African American Club

To raise funds for the club, I have
 * received three Brockton Education Foundation grants
 * solicited sponsorships and gift certificates from area businesses
 * posted and received book donations from the online program Donors Choose:
 * Book Club Hungry for New Title HS Book Club Ready for Paranormal Comedy Looking for John Green

  Book clubs make the beneficial act of independent reading a fun and social activity for students. I have been the advisor for the BHS Book Club since 2005. Club members help select titles for the club to read, meet weekly, and participate in a variety of activities, including a shared book discussion once a month. The books they select for the club then become part of the general collection, so all BHS students have the opportunity to read these high interest books.