Book Clubs: How to set up and run a successful book club in school

 1. Start with a Clear Purpose!

Before starting, decide what kind of book club you want.

Will it focus on fun reading, academic support, or specific genres like fantasy or mystery?

Having a clear goal helps attract the right members and choose books that fit everyone’s interests.

 

2. Gather Your Readers

Invite classmates or friends who enjoy reading, or those who want to read more often. You can form small groups (5–10 students) to keep discussions lively but manageable. If it’s part of a class project, your teacher can help you organize groups by reading levels or themes.

 

3. Choose the Right Book

Selecting the book is one of the most exciting parts. Choose a text that’s appropriate for your group’s age and reading level, but also engaging and meaningful. Consider letting members vote from a short list — that way, everyone feels included in the decision.

 

4. Organize Meetings and Roles

Decide how often you’ll meet — weekly, biweekly, or once a month — and where: the classroom, library, or even online.

During meetings, you can assign fun roles such as:

Discussion Leader — guides the conversation —, Vocabulary Finder — highlights interesting words —, Illustrator — draws a scene or character — or Connector — links the story to real life or other books —.

 

Rotating these roles keeps everyone involved and develops different reading skills.

 

5. Make Discussions Engaging

Instead of just asking “Did you like it?”, encourage open-ended questions:

• What surprised you most?
• How would you have acted in the character’s place?
• What message do you think the author wanted to share?
• Use games, Kahoot quizzes, or creative tasks like writing an alternative ending to keep the energy high and make every meeting fun.

 

6. Celebrate Reading

When the group finishes a book, celebrate!

You can host a small “book party,” create posters inspired by the story, or even film short book reviews. These activities motivate readers and make them proud of their progress.

 

7. Keep It Going

A successful book club grows with its members. Encourage feedback and suggestions for improvement. Maybe your group wants to invite other classes, start an online reading blog, or collaborate with the school library. The key is to keep the enthusiasm alive.

Take a look of ideas in: https://literacytrust.org.uk/blog/library-lifeline-part-5-running-a-school-library-book-club/