Implementing Junior Great Books in Your School

The Great Books Foundation will work with your school to create appropriate implementation and professional development plans that are right for you. Your professional development plan will depend on your implementation needs and objectives.

Great Books is most effective when fully incorporated into the school's language arts curriculum because the activities within each unit support and reinforce one another. Some schools use Great Books as their principal language arts program and some use Great Books in addition to a basal or other program.

To achieve Great Books learning objectives in reading comprehension, critical thinking, and writing, your classroom program should be consistent and ongoing. For most schools, we recommend three to five classroom sessions per unit and a minimum of eight units per semester. This gives students time to develop a habit of careful reading and critical thinking.

Support for Your Great Books Implementation

The most effective Junior Great Books programs are supported by a formal plan for ongoing professional development with an experienced Great Books professional development consultant. Great Books Foundation consultants will help your district or school develop an implementation plan, supported by ongoing professional development, that will improve teachers’ questioning strategies across the curriculum.

Implementation Planning Help. To create a professional development plan that is right for your school, call 1-800-222-5870 and ask to speak to the representative for your state.

Implementation Planning Guide. Download a five-step planning guide for Great Books programs right now.