“We take all comers!” This is a phrase that Next Chapter Book Club (NCBC) Founder Dr. Tom Fish is fond of saying. It means that all people are welcome in our book clubs, regardless of reading ability.
This sets NCBC apart from most other book clubs. Rather than reading the book at home, club members and facilitators take turns reading aloud during meetings. While some members are skilled readers, others need more support. Volunteer facilitators are trained to provide individualized support using a variety of strategies.
It is also important to note that NCBC is not a reading instruction program. Members are not necessarily learning to read; they are reading to learn. And reading looks different and sounds different from person to person, which is a phrase I am fond of saying.
For NCBC members who need help with most or all of the words on the page, we use a technique called Echo Reading. The facilitator reads a word (or short phrase) and the member echoes it back. Facilitators are encouraged to point to the words as they read and allow members to try shorter “sight words” on their own.
When each word is being said twice, it can slow down the pace and affect comprehension for some. So, we suggest limiting the amount of Echo Reading per member to a couple of paragraphs, or a page at most. After the member finishes their turn, it is also a good idea to quickly summarize what was read. More on comprehension strategies to come!
The Echo Reading technique is not about correct pronunciation or accuracy. It is about giving everyone the opportunity to participate in the reading… which just looks and sounds different from person to person.
Echo Reading in a Next Chapter Book Club meeting