Butler Catholic launches student book club!

April 10, 2023

Butler Catholic School has a new book club, and it’s already making a splash!

With more than 30 students in fifth and sixth grade signed up to participate, the club held its first officially meeting March 31.

“It was a wonderful afternoon!” said Kathy Dudley, the BCS staff member who helped get the group started. “So many kids came, and we even have a few more signed up.”

The idea for the club was student-driven. After hearing a group of upper-class students talking about reading, Mrs. Dudley looked into launching a book club by the end of this school year! Asking for input from students, the club is designed to engage readers not only by having them think critically about the books they read, but also have a substantial say in the books that are selected.

“The first book they chose is Millionaires for the Month by Stacy McAnulty,” Mrs. Dudley explained. “It’s a fun story of two boys who find a wallet and ultimately learn the value of a penny.”

A generous donor bought enough copies of the book for each student to have their own for the club. At their first club meeting, students spent time analyzing the book and predicting about what will happen in it. They also made bookmarks for their own use and wrote thank yous to the person who made the book donation.

Students are responsible for completing reading assignments on their own. What they read will then be the focus of small-group discussions during club meetings Fridays after school.

By starting the club the week before Easter, students had plenty of time to catch up on reading over Easter break. When they return to school April 11, students will be super prepared for their April 14 meeting.

“They are looking forward to their next meeting,” Mrs. Dudley added, “which will cover chapters 1 through 10!”

Visit the BCS Facebook page to see what our students are up to!