Eight years ago, media specialist Jennifer Baker turned a shared love of reading into the Mason Creek Middle School Lunch Bunch Book Club, a thriving oasis where students escape into the pages of friendship and adventure.
Baker started out with around 16 eighth-graders the first year and has seen the Lunch Bunch Book Club grow to around 45 students in grades 6-8 participating this year.
“Lunch Bunch Book Club is one of my favorite things to host in the media center because it allows me time to get to know the students better and discuss awesome books in a relaxing environment,” she said.
Baker announces the book being read by the Lunch Bunch and then students sign up to participate. Students read the assigned chapters each week and then meet for lunch in the media center every Tuesday to discuss those chapters. The Lunch Bunch Book Club is free for all students at Mason Creek.
Currently, sixth-graders are reading “The Homework Machine” by Dan Gutman and seventh- and eighth-graders are reading “Counting by 7s” by Holly Goldberg Sloan.
“The secret to keeping it going for so many years is to share your love for reading with students on a daily basis,” Baker said. “I am always talking to students about what they are reading or suggesting books for them to read. I also make it very clear that the Lunch Bunch is not only for kids who love to read but also for students who want to improve their reading skills and need someone to hold them accountable or for students who just need a break from the cafeteria on Tuesdays!”