For this activity, the teacher makes decisions about book choices based on several considerations. So, the teacher has some flexibility in her assignments but some limits as well. The teacher will consider the support children will need to handle the books and will consider how much support the group members will need to offer each other to be successful. Once the teacher makes assignments, placing equal numbers of students in each of the four groups, she sets up the room for Day 1 of the Book Club. Multiple copies of the same titles are placed in the four groups around the room with the chairs arranged in a group setting, or, if a teacher is comfortable with kids sitting in groups on the floor, that is workable as well.
Charts showing group assignments are available so children can find their places.
For maximum effect, the teacher should still conduct an introductory whole group lesson with those same good elements connecting to prior knowledge, introducing concept vocabulary, offering a comprehension mini-lesson, and setting a purpose for reading. Some of the elements can be handled by the group members. Giving kids responsibility for their own learning is a very effective technique when facilitated skillfully by the teacher. The teacher should also dictate how much each group should read each day in an attempt to keep all of the groups together as much as possible. One person in each group could be assigned to call a halt on a given page shared with that student by the teacher.