Graduate Research Papers
Availability
Open Access Graduate Research Paper
Keywords
Book clubs (Discussion groups); Books and reading; Reading (Secondary);
Abstract
Many secondary students do not read for pleasure and so educators need ways to encourage more reading. Book clubs may be one answer to help combat the issue and inspire a culture of reading in schools today. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine a high school book club to see what attracts students to book clubs initially and what they value about the culture of the book club. Twelve high school book club members and their teacher librarian (TL) participated in two focus group meetings. The TL led the focus groups using questions the researcher provided for two focus group meetings, as well as met individually with the researcher before and after the focus groups. The interview questions were based upon AASL’s (2010) Position statement on the value of independent reading and AASL (2007) Standards for the 21st-century learner to examine why students become involved with a book club and what they value about it. Upon completion of the study, the researcher found that students participate in book club because they like to read and discuss books with a community of readers. The researcher also found that many students join book club as a motivator to read recreationally within their busy schedules. Students at this book club value the discussion, variety of books to explore, and bonding with peers. Evidence was displayed in this study for why high school students become involved with book club and what they value about the culture. Further study is needed to understand if high school students believe book club contributes to their education and how book clubs at the secondary level influence the larger school culture.
Year of Submission
2017
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Curriculum and Instruction
Department
Division of School Library Studies
First Advisor
Karla Kreuger
Date Original
2017
Object Description
1 PDF file (47 pages)
Copyright
©2017 Briana White
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
White, Briana, "Recreational reading in secondary schools through book clubs" (2017). Graduate Research Papers. 216.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/grp/216
