The first thing I thought when I saw the title of this chapter before even reading a word was how can math class have a book club. Throughout Subject Matters, we have discussed different strategies than can be used to bring literacy to different content area classrooms. Book clubs are just another way to bring diversity to the class material, but also encourages literacy in classrooms such as math or science where it is not discussed as much. However, as strange as it sounds, math and science classes can have a book club and all subjects for that matter. In fact, these classes probably should have book clubs because of how much understanding they bring to students. Book clubs in content areas can show students different ways to interpret the information they are being lectured. In math, these book clubs, can give students real life situations and examples that better explain a certain concept in a context other than on a test in the classroom. Students will be met where they are and given a chance to collaborate on discussions with peers that they may not have been able to prior to having a book club. Some students may struggle with this new concept in class and it is up to the teacher to demonstrate and explain their instructions to their students.
Book clubs are just one example of how easy it is to plan other content areas into your lesson plans. Cross curriculum gives the students a chance to make bigger connections and succeed in different contents since they are seeing those areas more often. Overall, teachers should learn to bring diversity and change into their classroom. Teachers often become burned out from teaching when their class becomes stagnant. They need to remember they are for their students and need to reach them on their level. By having a book club in a math class, you are allowing the students who love to read and learn best that way to succeed in your class because they are being able to use the materials that help them best. Overall, teachers are there for their students to succeed and should be okay with bringing change and new concepts into their classrooms.
Subject Matters: Chapter 9
Word Count: 370
Katie,
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I liked how you brought up how book clubs bring a good deal of variety to the classroom, and how that can be a nice and well-needed change of pace for the teacher. I also like how you mention that book clubs can help students understand material in different ways than just normal classroom lecturing can, and how being in different clubs can let students have voices of their own. Nice work!
Word Count: 74