Reading & Writing at The Curiosity Club

At The Curiosity Club, reading , writing, creativity and discussion come alive. Students explore rich novels, engage in meaningful discussion, and complete thoughtful writing and creative tasks that stretch their minds while honoring their individuality. Using our custom Curiosity Club Reading Design, readers progress through each book in six balanced segments, building comprehension, interpretation, and writing stamina as they go.

Our goal is simple:
Help students become better thinkers, readers, writers, and communicators - one book at a time.

Reading Philosophy

Reading at The Curiosity Club is not a race to the end of the book. Instead, we slow down, linger, ask questions, debate ideas, and look for meaningful connections. Students read with purpose and intention, and our discussions reflect that.

We focus on:

thoughtful comprehension rather than surface recall
interpretation and inference appropriate for advanced readers ages 10–12
character analysis, theme exploration, and pattern-finding
student-generated questions
discussion in warm, supportive small groups
building confidence with rich, challenging texts

Every reader is supported, stretched, and heard.

Writing Philosophy

Writing grows naturally out of our reading and science work. Students practice frequent, low-stress writing aimed at clarity, structure, and expression.

We emphasize:

writing one full, meaningful page of thinking
understanding what “high-quality work” looks like
strong topic sentences and structured paragraphs
narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive forms
revision, editing, and craftsmanship
finding a personal writing voice
encouraging creativity while maintaining academic rigor

Students learn that writing improves with attention, effort, and feedback — and they quickly grow proud of their progress.

The Curiosity Club Reading Template

Every novel we read is divided into six balanced reading assignments, always ending cleanly at chapter boundaries. For each assignment, students receive a curated set of writing choices designed to push depth of understanding, stimulate curiosity, and build the basis for the following group discussions.

These choices:

begin more literal and descriptive
grow increasingly interpretive as the book progresses
encourage students to analyze character motivations, themes, and consequences
connect text ideas to the wider world
match the developmental level of advanced 10–12-year-old readers

Students may respond verbally, in writing, or through creative formats depending on the assignment and discussion flow.

Response Choices After Reading

After each reading assignment, students choose one response task from a structured menu of options. Every choice is intentionally designed to require an equivalent level of thought and effort — roughly what it takes to create one full handwritten page of thoughtful, revised writing.

Common response types include:

Descriptive & Inferential Writing

Students write and answer higher-level inferential questions and make text-to-self, text-to-world, or text-to-text connections. These responses must be thoughtful, specific, and grounded in the reading.

Narrative Writing

Students might write a story, a first-person journal entry, a dialogue between characters or scientific concepts, or a narrative scene inspired by the reading. Strong structure and vivid detail are expected.

Expository Research Writing

Students gather ten new research facts, cite sources, and blend selected facts into a short expository essay. This strengthens research skills, synthesis, and academic writing habits.

Technical Sketching & Keyed Diagrams

Some tasks involve anatomical, scientific, or labeled diagrams paired with detailed written keys. These assignments reinforce accuracy, attention to detail, and clear explanation.

Persuasive or Argument Writing

Students write structured, evidence-based opinions on topics connected to the reading, practicing clear reasoning and strong writing craft.

Blended Summary + Research Tasks

Students craft accurate summaries of assigned chapters and weave in selected research notes to deepen understanding.

Creative Lists & Divergent Thinking Tasks

Students produce descriptive or analytical lists that still require depth, reasoning, and clarity, even when presented in creative forms.

Across all formats, expectations remain the same:
careful thought, clear writing, and pride in craftsmanship.

How Students Share and Submit Their Work

Sharing is a key part of our reading community.

Small-Group Sharing

Before (and sometimes after) turning in assignments, students share excerpts from their writing with their discussion group. This builds confidence, strengthens oral communication, and allows students to learn from one another.

Submitting Work

Students may submit assignments:

in person (handwritten or typed)
through a shared Google Doc link
as a file upload (PDF, Word document, or clear image) using the submission form on this page

Submission is flexible so writing remains centered on thinking, not the tool used.

How Feedback Works

Every assignment receives personal, specific feedback. Students receive:

handwritten comments
typed notes
suggestions for clarity and strength
encouragement and affirmation
follow-up questions to extend thinking

Before our next meeting, each student reviews their feedback and we may meet one on one if needed for clarification. This fast, supportive feedback cycle helps them grow steadily and confidently as readers and writers.

Books We Read

We read a mix of classic, contemporary, and high-interest novels ideally suited for curious, capable young readers. Titles may vary by group, but recent and commonly selected books include those on THIS list. We are always adding new titles!