Have you participated in a book club before? Gathering as a group to talk about a reading experience is a practice you might have in your personal life and one you might have explored for professional learning. An online book club can bring educators together in a way that feels focused and supportive.
An online book club can also fit into a busy season for educators. Participants can join from home, from a classroom, or from anywhere with a connection. I love virtual connections, and earlier this year, I recorded a podcast episode with Linda DeYounge, who ran an online book club featuring the second edition of my book, EdTech Essentials. She had lots of great tips to share, including what worked, what she would tweak next time, and how she kept momentum going from session to session.
In today’s blog post, I’ll share a handful of online book club tips perfect for a teacher team book study!
Online Book Club Tips for Teachers
As I mentioned earlier, this year I had the chance to chat with Linda DeYounge all about book clubs. If you haven’t listened to the episode yet, this link takes you to the Apple Podcasts page, and this one to listen on Spotify. Alternatively, you can press play below to listen on the web.
In addition to the book club Linda ran for educators, I’ve participated in an online book club in a few different ways. Sometimes I join the final session for a question-and-answer conversation with educators who have read my book. Other times, I’ve led a three-part series that focuses on sections of the book for people who have already read it. I try to set these up for people who might not have the time to read the entire book and would like the big themes and big takeaways.
If you are looking for a book for your group, check out this blog post with “100+ Education Books for Professional Development by Authors Interviewed on the Easy EdTech Podcast.” No matter what title your group chooses, the tips below can help you run an online book club for teachers.
12 Tips for Running an Online Book Club for Teachers
The tips below are written with an online book club for teachers in mind. You can also use them for a leadership team, a coaching cohort, a district-wide professional learning community, or any group you like.
Pick the purpose of your online book club
Start by naming the why. Are you building community, supporting new initiatives, or focusing on instructional routines? Once the purpose is clear, it is easier to choose the book and shape the conversations.
Decide on a realistic timeline
A short timeline can create urgency, but an overly tight schedule can frustrate busy educators. Try to pick a timeline that is short but manageable. You might try six to eight weeks, depending on the length of the book or the availability of your group.
Choose if your online book club is live, flexible, or both
There isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to hosting an online book club. You might decide to have a live session where participants join on video to discuss the book. Or an asynchronous book club where members post in an online discussion space might be a better fit.
Set clear expectations for participants
Share expectations that also provide flexibility. You might say, “Read chapters 1 and 2 if you can, and come ready to share one idea you noticed.” This keeps the door open for someone who might fall behind with their reading.
Create a home base for everything
Pick one spot where participants can find links, dates, and notes. A shared Google Doc, a learning management system page, or a simple landing page can work well. You want to reduce the friction for finding information and make it easy for everyone to participate.
Start each session with a quick warm-up
Begin each session with an easy way for everyone to participate. Try a prompt that takes one or two minutes, like “Share a phrase you underlined,” or “What is one sentence you would screenshot from this chapter?”
Build in small group talk time
If you have a large number of people participating, you might want to allow time for small group discussions. With a tool like Zoom, you can use breakout rooms with one prompt and a simple time limit. Then bring everyone back for a quick share-out.
Encourage members to take action
Instead of simply saying, “I liked this chapter,” encourage members of the online book club to take action. You might use prompts like “What could this look like on a Tuesday,” or “What is one small change you could test next week?”
Offer an optional weekly challenge
Some participants love trying things between meetings. Others cannot. Offer an optional challenge that is small and clear, like testing one discussion routine, revising a prompt, or trying a new reflection question.
If your online book club is reading EdTech Essentials, for example, a weekly challenge could ask teachers to try one strategy connected to an essential from the book (like “Explore…” or “Curate…”)
Use reflection journals
Regular readers of the blog know that I’m a big fan of Book Creator and have created some resources for their team related to topics like formative assessment and emojis. You might use this tool as a simple digital journal and add text, audio, or video reflections each week.
Use productivity tools to reduce your workload
You might use a calendar invite series for all sessions so reminders are automatic. You can also use a simple registration form to collect emails and preferences. And of course, you might create templates for weekly reminders and update emails, which can also help, so you are not starting from scratch each time you’re reaching out to your group.
Invite an author visit
If you can bring in an author, it can be a fun way to kick off or wrap up an online book club. I have joined an online book club for a final session question-and-answer conversation, and it is a great way to celebrate finishing the book.
Bonus tip: Use a study guide to help you plan
Lots of authors of professional learning books include a study guide in the back of their book. I have one for my book EdTech Essentials and Tasks Before Apps. And I even created a digital version you can download for free here.
Kicking Off an Online Book Club for Teachers
An online book club can give educators a place to think, talk, and try new ideas without adding a huge lift to everyone’s schedule. Start small, keep routines consistent, and choose tools that make participation easy, whether someone joins live every week or takes part in an asynchronous book club.
If you want more ideas, listen to my conversation with Linda DeYounge and take a peek at my free study guide for ready-to-use prompts you can share with your group!
