Reading Courses

In the past I've often been listed as the nominal professor for various graduate students taking "reading courses," which basically meant "I'm going to be doing my research, but there's some university requirement that says I must be registered for a certain number of courses each term, so please sign my sheet." But this term I have two students doing honest-to-goodness reading courses -- trying to learn some specific material that isn't being offered in any structured course offered at the moment. And -- it's great! Anyone have their favorite suggestions/anti-suggestions for reading courses? The method I chose was the following: the student and I consult on a course of readings for the term. Every week, the student reads through the relevant material. Then once a week we meet, and I sit in my chair and take notes as the student gives an informal lecture, as if they were the ...