BLAZING NEW TRAILS IN THOUGHT

BANNED BOOK CLUBS IN THE

MIDDLE SCHOOLAnne Canada

Library Media SpecialistParis Middle School

acanada@parisschools.org

I didn’t just love to read…

AAIM ConferenceBrown Bag Book Club

1st quarter Book Titleand Author

Activity number attending

5th grade Frindle by Andrew Clements

Guest speaker Pat McHughes on media

effect on stories

60

6th grade Peak by Roland Smith Connected to author visit – VIP passes and author

background research

30

7th/8th grade girls Breathing Underwater and Diva by Alex Flinn

*Guest Speaker – D. Westbrook Doss,

Fayetteville attorney

14

7th/8th grade boys Touching Spirit Bear by Ben

*Discussed bullying 11

2nd quarter

5th grade Eleven by Patricia Reily Giff

Presentation on Heart Island, featured in the

story. Discusses Setting

26

6th grade Maniac McGee by Jerry Spinelli

Presented background information on Racial

issues – discusses Setting

22

7th/8th grade girls The Earth, My Butt, and other Big Round Things

Discussed main character’s self-image,

Ozark, AR - setting

4

7th/8th grade boys Monster by Walter Dean Myers

0

3rd quarter

5th grade Heartbeat by Sharon Creech

Art lesson on drawing – perspective, drawing an

apple

45

6th grade Out of the Dust by Karen Hess

Todaysmeet.com website discussion on POV and

historical context

48

7th/8th grade girls Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Guest speaker – Paula Barnhill – self-defense moves and strategies

11

7th/8th grade boys Soldier Boys Dean Hughes 0

Bookin’ it @ Lunch

2009-2010

1st 3 quarters

FeaturedBooksand

Activities

I RECOGNIZED THAT THE ENTHUSIASM FOR THE BOOK CLUBS THAT WAS PRESENT IN 5TH AND 6TH GRADE DID NOT CARRY OVER

INTO THE 7TH AND 8TH GRADES. •older students are just less likely to give up recess and socialization time

•there are various intramural sports from which students can choose to participate

I was not satisfied with the low numbers in the higher grades and began working to better entice these students.

Sell it!TO ADMINISTRATION TO KIDS

Sound teaching Addresses the standards Builds student / parent /

school relationship Promotes high-order

evaluative thinking skills I’ll totally take

responsibility for it.

The “exclusive” element

Doing something that’s “edgy”

T-shirt! Respect their views

while exploring their rights

PARENTS

• essential part of this conversation• informed • invited to read and participate• fee

The plan!

This year… Researched – ALA Chose books Designed shirts Advertised and promoted Permission slips Discussed at length in first meeting the

concept of censorship Know your customer – added a title SKYPE

Anne Canada Paris Middle School Librarian

acanada@parisschools.org