Book Study Guidelines Achieving Improvements in Teaching and Learning

Why Book Studies? Professional book studies invite educators to embed their learning into the work they do in schools and classrooms everyday.

The Research Teachers studying research- based practices together ensure greater skill attainment.

The Research Application/problem solving level becomes more powerful as teachers become an active learning community.

Guidelines Topics relative to conducting a book study: Organization –How to prepare for a book study. Procedures –How to conduct a book study. Tasks –How to complete the book study.

Organization Organization: Key to a successful book study Group size –Selection of Group Members Location/Schedule Meeting Length Group Roles –Group members know their roles and the tasks associated with each role.

Assignment Working with a partner, utilize the internet to identify five educational books suitable for a book study. Create a bibliography to share with the class.

Roles Facilitator clarifies questions, misconceptions or concerns summarizes findings Recorder records group thoughts, questions, concerns Reporter reports out to whole group submits questions to online facilitator Time Keeper Keeps track of the time to move discussion Post these roles on a chart in your meeting room as a reminder.

Procedures Set Time Limits –Give each group 5 minutes for discussion of designated paragraph or chapter section –If there are specific paragraphs and/or sections within a chapter that should be discussed, point those out to participants. Group returns to whole group for reporting Questions are answered and clarified. Repeat this procedure throughout the book study until all chapters are completed.

Procedures Generate Questions Questions in small group –Record the questions/comments and present them in the whole group discussion. Questions that can’t be answered in the whole group setting may be sent to the online facilitator.

Procedures Provide Opportunity for Discussion Make certain that enough time is provided for discussion in both small and whole group settings. Discussion opportunities may provide answers to questions as well as ideas for solving problems with implementation.

Reflection –Participants have an opportunity to record thoughts at the end of the session. –Clarify any confusion or misconception chapter may need and whether it should be revisited before the next session. –Reflect on content and process.

Tasks Tasks: Important Record Keeping Record discussions; questions/answers; problems/solutions Record questions generated for discussion in small group; whole group; and submit questions to facilitator

Reunion Book Study Reunion –Purpose To revisit, reflect, and/or re-teach practices studied. –Time Frame Usually held at least 2 months after the original book study.

Assignment Working in a small group, assign each person a role. (facilitator, recorded, reporter, time keeper) Read the following article: “The Changing Role of the 21 st Century Teacher” Generate a book study log that contains the following elements… –5 team questions for future discussion –Individual response to each question –A individual summary of article

Remember “The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it.” ~James Bryce