The Book Club Breakdown

Upper Grand DSB

Welcome to The Book Club Breakdown, a limited podcast series hosted by two Upper Grand District School Board program leads that explores book clubs in grades 7 to 10 classrooms. Throughout our journey, we are inviting a number of voices into the conversation, including those of teachers and students in our school board, as well as local and global leaders in reading pedagogy. Join us as we learn more about how to center diverse voices, student choice, and honor authentic discussions.

Episodes

  1. 06/10/2025

    Ep. 12 Launching & Managing Book Clubs - Book Clubs in Practice with Brittany Bartlett

    Guests: Britany Bartlett and students Brittany Bartlett, a grade seven teacher, discusses the implementation of theme-based book clubs in her classroom. The discussion highlights the importance of student choice in book selection and the use of hexagonal thinking to connect different texts. Brittany emphasizes the significance of facilitating personal connections to literature, allowing students to voice their experiences and reflections. Students also share their thinking and what they've learned from reading together in book clubs.

    19 min

  2. 06/10/2025

    Ep. 11 Launching & Managing Book Clubs - Book Clubs in Practice with Shari Roberts

    Episode 11 Guests: Shari Roberts and students Heather and Sandy engage with Shari Roberts, a Junior/ Intermediate teacher, to explore the intricacies of implementing book clubs in the classroom. Shari shares her extensive experience in preparing students for book club discussions, emphasizing the importance of scaffolding, practice, and creating a supportive environment. The conversation delves into the dynamics of student-led discussions, the role of the teacher, and the excitement surrounding book club days, providing valuable insights for educators looking to enhance their reading programs. Students also share their experiences learning in book clubs.

    20 min

  3. 06/04/2025

    Ep. 10: Launching & Managing Book Clubs - Talking with an Author of Breathing New Life into Book Clubs

    Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul, an expert in literacy and equity, discusses the transformative power of book clubs in education. The discussion explores how book clubs can breathe new life into reading practices by centering student choice, fostering diverse voices, and creating a joyful learning environment. Dr. Cherry-Paul emphasizes the importance of cultivating student voice, reflecting identities through literature, and embracing the chaos of book clubs as a means to enhance student engagement and growth in literacy.

    24 min

  4. 06/04/2025

    Ep. 9: Launching & Managing Book Clubs - Anchoring to Our Anchor Texts

    Hosts Sandy and Heather in coversation to introduce season two. Sandy and Heather discuss the podcast’s two anchor texts to give an overview of launching and managing book clubs in classrooms. They discuss various structures for book clubs, the importance of diverse texts, and the essential skills needed for successful discussions. The conversation emphasizes the need for effective organization and planning and aims to inspire educators to create engaging and inclusive reading experiences for students.

    17 min

  5. 06/08/2024

    Ep. 8 Selecting Texts: Inspiring Students with Book Talks

    Guest: Rachel Cooke, TDSB Hybrid-Teacher/Coach and Assistant Curriculum Leader of English/Literacy, and Author Rachel Cook shares insights into the practice of “book talks” and their impact on student reading habits. She discusses the significance of book talks, the process of selecting texts, and the logistics of implementing them in the classroom.

    18 min

  6. 06/07/2024

    Ep. 7 Selecting Texts: A Librarian’s Perspective

    Guest: Lauren Bull, Supervisor of Library & Media Services at TJRC Lauren Bull discusses the resources available at the Terry James Resource Center and how they curate their collection. She shares insights into the changes in the approach to providing taught texts over the years and the shift from formal literature to high-interest texts that focus on diversity of representation and authorship, and empowering student choice and voice. Lauren highlights key parts of the TJRC collection including graphic novels, novels in verse, short story anthologies, and traditional novels, in both English and French.

    13 min

  7. 06/06/2024

    Ep. 6: Selecting Texts - Indigenous Text Considerations

    Epiosde 6 Guest: Jerica Fraser, UGDSB Indigenous Education Lead Jerica Fraser provides expertise and practical insight into the process of vetting Indigenous texts. The discussion focuses on the importance of using recommended Indigenous texts and resources and the significance of providing a selection of texts rather than just one. Jerica highlights the importance of authenticity in bringing Indigenous voices into the classroom and avoiding tokenistic approaches.

    23 min

  8. 06/05/2024

    Ep. 5 Selecting Texts: Considering Culturally Responsive and Relevant Pedagogy

    Guest: Jael Richardson, Author and Director of the FOLD & FOLD Kids Jael Richardson discusses the importance of book clubs in the classroom, the significance of reading diverse texts by Canadian and Indigenous authors, and the principles of culturally responsive and relevant pedagogy. She emphasizes the value of including diverse voices and perspectives in classroom texts and the impact it has on students.

    17 min

  9. 06/04/2024

    Ep. 4 Setting the Stage: Developing Student Reading Identity

    Guest: Pernille Ripp, Author, Educator, and Public Speaker Pernille Ripp discusses how to create an environment that respects the voices and choices of students in classroom book clubs. She explores the importance of developing student reading identity and the impact of instructional practices on students' reading experiences. The conversation emphasizes the need to dispel myths about reading and to have authentic conversations with students about their reading journeys.

    25 min

  10. 06/03/2024

    Ep. 3 Setting the Stage - Engaging Strategies that Prepare Students for Book Clubs

    Episode 3 Guest: Jodi Sprung-Boyd, UGDSB Educator Jodi Sprung-Boyd shares her strategies for using book clubs in her classroom. She emphasizes the importance of providing diverse book choices and creating a sense of community through book clubs. Jody also discusses the power of storytelling and how it can be explored through activities that involve movement and dialogue. She shares her approach to introducing book promos and involving fellow educators and former students in the process.

    14 min

  11. 06/02/2024

    Ep. 2 Setting the Stage: Why move away from single taught texts?

    Guest: Rabia Khokhar, Educator and Anti-Racism Activist Rabia Khokhar discusses the importance of book clubs and moving away from the single-taught text model. Rabia emphasizes the need to center student voice and choice, which leads to increased engagement and equity in the classroom. Rabia also provides guidance for teachers on how to choose books for book clubs, including reflecting on their own positionality, considering the needs and interests of their students, and researching and reviewing books.

    26 min

  12. 06/01/2024

    Ep. 1 Introducing The Book Club Breakdown

    This first episode welcomes listeners to The Book Club Breakdown! Heather and Sandy introduce themselves as podcast hosts and discuss the focus of The Book Club Breakdown. Listeners will find out more about the guests and how to access resources connected to the episodes. Don't miss this first episode as it also lets listeners know how to enter a draw for one of two texts that are anchored to in the podcast!

    7 min
  • 12 Episodes

About

Welcome to The Book Club Breakdown, a limited podcast series hosted by two Upper Grand District School Board program leads that explores book clubs in grades 7 to 10 classrooms. Throughout our journey, we are inviting a number of voices into the conversation, including those of teachers and students in our school board, as well as local and global leaders in reading pedagogy. Join us as we learn more about how to center diverse voices, student choice, and honor authentic discussions.

Information

  • Channel
    Upper Grand DSB
  • Creator
    Sandra Kritzer & Heather Walker - UGDSB Program Leads
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 Sandra Kritzer & Heather Walker - UGDSB Program Leads
  • Show Website
    The Book Club Breakdown

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