MARVELOUS MUSTANGS Starting a Boys Only Book Club at McCrary Elementary School

Why start a boys only book club?  Lack of role model at home  Lack of interest in reading  Female teachers- not sure what to recommend or how to relate  Little time or opportunity for self-selected reading

We started a boys only book club in  Meetings every other Monday evening (5:30-6:30)  Adult males were welcome, but not required  We continued the meetings in

What has made this club a success?  Grant money used for t-shirts  Boys chose the color and design  Boys brainstormed a list of names for the club, then voted on one Gave the boys ownership Makes them feel part of a “club”

Our Shirts

Shirts   Given to any boy who attended at least one meeting   Given to boys after attending 3 meetings  Also earning a button for their lanyard after attending 5 meetings

Record keeping for shirts

What has made this club a success?  Grant money used for book selection  At one meeting, boys get on laptops and use my Follett account to search for books that they would like to add to the collection (could be done with Amazon, Scholastic, etc.)

Books selected by boys in the club

What has made this club a success?  Novel studies  Belly Up by Stuart Gibbs in  Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney in

What has made this club a success?  Snacks provided by staff members

Some struggles  Recruiting men!  Most of our male staff helps (greatly appreciated!)  National Honor Society  Churches  Use husbands of teachers, etc.  Great dads, grandfathers!

Some struggles  Getting boys to remember meetings!  Announced during morning announcements  Reminder slips sent home  Wearing my shirt on meeting days

Some things to consider…  Graphic novels and comic books?

Some things to consider…  Behavior tied-in?

What do the meetings look like?  Always different!  Sometimes start with announcements  Sometimes involve the novel study  Sometimes ordering books  READING- always time for self-selected reading

What do the meetings look like?  Self-selected reading and discussions with adult male role models

How often do you come to the CWM media center?