Send out an interest survey to the students in your middle school. Set a deadline by which students should submit their completed survey. The survey should ask questions to which the answers indicate an interest in joining a book club and student availability. These answers can help you make plans for the book club.
Compile a list of age-appropriate books for middle school students. Some middle schools already offer a reading list for middle school. If your school does not have one, the website Good Reads or your local library can provide one for you to use.
Schedule an informational meeting immediately after school to gauge actual interest and arrange the best time and place that fits the most schedules. This can be difficult with sports and other extracurricular activities. If necessary, arrange for two book club meetings per week to accommodate different schedules.
Set goals for the book club. Select the kinds of books the students prefer to read and how quickly the students should get through the book. For instance, reading through one novel should take one to two months depending on the size of the book. You must also decide what the students expect to get out of the book club, such as expanding their reading selections or gaining more in depth knowledge.
Make the book club a separate function from school. Many middle school students already have to read specific books for classes. Choose books that are more entertaining and are not the same types they read during school. Offer refreshments at the book club to make it a social event rather than only educational. If possible, meet at a location away from the school or in a room other than a classroom.