Signum Academy Book Club
Signum Academy Book Club is for kids and teens who love to read. Each week, students will meet online with their book club group to talk about stories they enjoy. Each child will have a chance to share their thoughts about the story, their favorite characters, and more.
Why Book Club?
We believe an informed imagination fuels the creativity that makes us human. Stories that awaken our imagination enable us to join the fragments of our reality into a whole, provide perspective to build relationships with our fellow humans across time and space, and give us hope to pursue a brighter tomorrow. Our purpose in the Book Club is:
- To explore new worlds and adventures through the magic of the written word,
- To connect to narratives from the past and present, opening imaginative doors to the world surrounding us,
- To develop creativity by practicing critical reading skills, discussion, and debate in an encouraging, supportive environment.
Ready to sign up? Talk with your parents and then have them click the button below to fill out the form.
Coming Up in Book Club:
- March and April: Tolkien’s Appendices
- May: Resistance by Jennifer A. Nielsen
- June: How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell
- July: Watcher by Joan Hiatt Harlow
Books Enjoyed and Discussed So Far:
- The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe
- The Hobbit
- Harry Potter Saga 1-6
- Percy Jackson Series 1-5
Book Club Info for Parents
Signum Academy Book Club is designed for young book-lovers to discuss age-appropriate stories with their peers. All book club sessions are fully remote, providing a safe and flexible learning environment.
How Book Club Works
- Each book club group will have no more than 10 members.
- Books are chosen by the club members from a short list prepared by the teacher.
- Each book is read and discussed on a weekly schedule.
- Groups will meet for two 45-minute or one 90-minute sessions each week using Signum’s digital campus software (primarily Zoom).
- When one book is finished, the club will move on to a new book right away.
Note: A group consists of students from one of three grade ranges: 3rd – 5th grade, 6th – 8th grade, and 9th – 12th grade.
What Kids and Teens Will Learn in Book Club
- Critical reading skills
- Adhering to a schedule
- Cooperative discussion skills
- Debate and argumentation skills
Pricing
Book Club costs $90/month (about $10/hour). Discounts available for multiple subscriptions. Learn more about Signum Academy club pricing here.
What Books Do Book Club Members Read?
Some of the current, recent and upcoming books selected by book club members are indicated above. To find out what books are available for new club members, fill out our interest form and one of our club administrators will reach out to you.
Book Club and Learn Everywhere
(New Hampshire only)
Signum Academy Book Club is approved to participate in the New Hampshire Department of Education’s Learn Everywhere program. This means that New Hampshire high school students can earn certificates in Book Club that can be submitted for English credits toward graduation.
This page provides information about class equivalencies and assessments as they relate to Book Club. For general information and FAQs about Signum Academy’s participation Learn Everywhere, visit our Learn Everywhere page.
Expected Outcomes for Book Club Students
Students who wish to receive a certificate toward Learn Everywhere credit will be assessed regularly based on their participation during weekly sessions. Every month, preceptors will prepare a progress report showing their advancement toward achieving four competencies in the following areas:
- Critical Reading to understand ideas within the text
- Arguing from Evidence provided by the text
- Drawing Conclusions from the evidence they discover
- Speaking and Listening to participate constructively and effectively in group discussions
Student mastery of these competencies will be rated on a scale of 1-4 at both Beginning and Advanced levels. Students who achieve a 3 are understood to have attained mastery.
For a complete breakdown of how Book Club progress is measured, please email [email protected] or use our contact form.
High School Credit Equivalents for Book Club Topics
Each Book Club group will focus on one or more topics of interest to students who join the group. Students who wish to receive credit for a particular English class or elective can join the equivalent Book Club group studying that type of literature.
The table below provides an overview of how Book Club topics equate to New Hampshire high school English classes.
| Book Club Topic | Level | High School Class Equivalent (1/2 credit) |
|---|---|---|
| Ancient Mythology | Beginning | Ancient Mythology 1 (elective) |
| Ancient Mythology | Advanced | Ancient Mythology 2 (elective) |
| American Literature | Beginning | American Literature 1 (elective) |
| American Literature | Advanced | American Literature 2 (elective) |
| British Literature | Beginning | British Literature 1 (elective) |
| British Literature | Advanced | British Literature 2 (elective) |
| World Literature | Beginning | World Literature 1 (elective) |
| World Literature | Advanced | World Literature 2(elective) |
| Fantasy Literature | Advanced | Fantasy Literature (elective) |
| Science Fiction Literature | Advanced | Science Fiction Lit (elective) |
| Dystopian Literature | Advanced | Dystopian Lit (elective) |
| Poetry | Advanced | Poetry (elective) |
| Drama | Advanced | Drama (elective) |
| The Novel | Advanced | The Novel (elective) |
Book Club Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does the Book Club price include reading copies of the books?
No. The Book Club subscription fee covers payment for the club instructor, as well as administrative costs (such as software licensing).
All of the books read in our book clubs should be easily obtainable through local or online bookstores. We also recommend looking into your local library’s digital collections. Many libraries will have free digital copies available in ebook and audiobook format.
In some cases, older books read in Book Clubs may be available for free through public domain sites like Project Gutenberg or LibriVox. In such cases, we will let club members and parents know.