We all want our students hooked on reading, right? I’ve been using reading workshop with my classes since 1995, and that’s actually when I started doing the Book Pass! I read about it in a red teacher binder of English activities, and it’s been a hit every year. When we finish the pass, I have students swarming over the books! They’re asking me to reserve titles for them and going to the school and public library just to get a copy when mine have been depleted. So read on and I’ll explain some tips and of course, the “secret” to a fantastic Book Pass experience.
What is a Book Pass?
The general concept of a Book Pass is the teacher provides compelling books for students to get into their hands for a few moments. Students read the blurb and the first few pages and then rate the book according to their level of interest. Students get exposure to a lot of high-interest titles. Some teachers put their students into groups and books are circulated that way.
As a middle school teacher, I like to keep this activity orderly and silent, so students can actually READ! We perform it (as stated in the original directions) as a whole class activity.
Here’s my Book Pass Handout if you’d like to print and use it:
How Does the Book Pass Work?
So, what’s the big SECRET to a great Book Pass? Keeping it orderly and silent? Well, that’s important. But the biggest trick and ABSOLUTE NECESSITY is you have to choose only books that have attention-grabbing beginnings. Let me explain why this is so important. Here’s the process of the Book Pass:
- Student passes the book (I’ll explain how that’s done later in the post)
- Student records title and author on Book Pass handout
- He/she silently reads the “blurb” on back of book
- He/she turns to beginning of Chapter One and reads silently for 2 minutes
- Teacher calls time, student records interest level, passes book
- Student receives next book and continues the process
Now, back to our secret for success. There are so many excellent books out there that just don’t start into the action, excitement, or intrigue until you get several pages in. Those are NOT books to use for the Book Pass. Why? Because students need to be really interested in continuing reading the book. Remember, they only get two minutes to read and then they pass the book. If the author uses the first several pages to focus in on the setting, or a character’s background, even if the books turns amazing in Chapter Two, it’s not going to be a hit for the Book Pass. Better to save those titles for your book talks.
So . . . it does take some prep time to have a successful Book Pass where students are clamoring to read the books you’ve provided.
Recommended Book Titles
Let me help save you time by providing my list of 30 Books for Middle School with Attention-grabbing Beginnings:
- The Limit by Kristen Landon
- Legend by Marie Lu
- The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
- Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz
- Wanted by Caroline Cooney
- Runner by Carl Deuker
- Cirque Du Freak by Darren Shan
- The Maze Runner by James Dashner
- The Séance by Joan Lowry Nixon
- The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
- Divergent by Veronica Roth
- The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
- Spirit Seeker by Joan Lowry Nixon
- The Car by Gary Paulsen
- Fatality by Caroline Cooney
- The Compound by S.A. Bodeen
- Bullyville by Francine Prose
- Football Genius by Tim Green
- The Bully by Paul Langdan
- Girl Stolen by April Henry
- Six Months to Live by Lurlene McDaniel
- Buddy by M.H. Herlong
- The Wish by Gail Carson Levine
- Small Steps by Louis Sachar
- Origin by Jessica Khoury
- How to Steal a Dog – Barbara O’Connor
- Bystander – James Preller
- Reef of Death – Paul Zindel
- Slam – Walter Dean Myers
- The False Prince – Jennifer Nielsen
I’m sure you’ll find more from the books you love in your library—just check those first few pages to make sure they are grabbers!
Book Pass Process Details
You’ll need to have enough books for your largest class. When students come in, have a book already placed on every desk. Ask them not to change books. Assure them not to worry, that they won’t be stuck reading the book on their desk. It will only be there for a few minutes and then they will have a different one.
By the way, notice in the picture I have a numbered sticky note in each book. The sticky note marks the page where Chapter One begins. That way, students can turn quickly to the page where they will begin reading as soon as they finish the blurb. (I start timing them the two minutes when it looks like most everyone has started the chapter.) The number helps if you plan to do the pass over the course of two class periods. You can get the books back right where you left off and continue passing in the right order. That way, no one gets a “repeat” from the previous day.
Speaking of passing in the right order, place the numbered books on student desks in a snake-like order. This is the way they will need to be passed. First person passes behind, next person passes behind, next person passes behind, until end of row. Then that person passes across, next person passes forward, that student passes forward, next passes forward until front of row. That student passes over to next row, etc. If you don’t have desks in rows (I have mine in pairs), choose a snake-like flow of passing and make it clear to the students. I make them look directly at me as I tell them who they will pass to. The last person in the pass has to get up and bring it around to the first person (I usually run it around.)
The Book Pass is fun! Who doesn’t love seeing students engaged in reading and eager for their next book! If you don’t have a classroom library, just give your list to the librarian. He or she can find more titles to fit your needs. Then afterwards, take your classes to the library for actual check-out.
Thanks for letting me share! What’s your twist on the Book Pass? I’d love to hear about your experiences.
You may want to look at these resources I created for independent novels:
I love reading about the various ways of doing a book pass. I throw in a lesson about finding a “Just Right” book. Some of my sixth graders struggle with finding a book at their level. We review what it means when a book is too difficult or too easy. With this in mind, I have them use their fingers to count the unknown words on the pages they read during the time they’re given. If they hold up four to five or more fingers per page, the book is not right for them… yet. Similarly, it’s too easy for them if no fingers are up. This is pretty simplified, but for those who really struggle with reading, it’s a great trick to keep in mind. I have them keep their book pass list in their binder for the remainder of the year. They look at it when they’re ready to select a new book. I think I may try it several times a year just to keep a lot of books in front of them.
Love, love , LOVE IT! I will be doing this with my 4th and 5th graders. Still not quite sure how a student can “pick right up where they left off” but otherwise, I can’t wait to try it out.
That just means that if you have the numbered sticky notes in the books, the next day you can give each students the same numbered book they left off with. It would be the last book they logged in on their sheet. Then everyone passes and the Book Pass is back on track!
I love the structure to this activity! I have done a more casual version of this – putting students in groups with a pile of new books and a sheet for writing down titles they like after exploring the books. This is always a bit chaotic, though. I love that all students have a book, a time limit, and clear instructions. I will definitely try this with my 7th and 8th graders, especially at the start of the school year when I’m trying to introduce them to the books in my classroom library. Thank you!
Do you have any thoughts on how to do this with inclusion classes, with a few non-readers and many below grade level readers? 7th grade classes…
Actually, what you’ve described here applies to my classes as well. That’s why I tell students that they will only have that book for a few minutes–so they won’t fret if it looks too low or too high for them. With my two inclusion classes, I just use a few more titles that would appeal to the struggling readers. I number them with the sticky notes so I can simply “exchange them in” for those classes. I have had non-readers follow along with the activity, even though their eyes may wander during the reading. I am then informed, and will reach out with options for graphic novels, etc.
Thank you for sharing this! I’m going to try it and call it Speed Booking (like Speed Dating). I think they will love it!
For approximately how long does this activity go on for during class? I am a little hesitate in that I teach POR and attention issues could come into play.
Thanks so much for sharing!
Hi Stacey, You can choose the length of time that would suit each class for the book pass. You can stop it after they’ve circulated 6-7 books, or you can go on for much longer. Some teachers divide it up into a 2-day activity. Having the numbered sticky notes helps to pick it up where they left off if you want to continue with more passing on another day.
Thanks