Literature Circles

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Literature Circles
Tracy Hardwell Pearl Public School District
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Literature Circles

• Literature circles bring together two ideas
• Independent reading
• Cooperative learning

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What are Literature Circles?

• Literature Circles are small, temporary
  discussion groups of students who are reading the
  same piece of literature.

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What are Literature Circles?

• Literature circles give students an opportunity
  to work independently (reading and activities)
  and cooperatively (discussion groups)

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What do students do in literature circles?

• Read independently or with their group
• Participate in group discussions
• Each group member will have a specific
  responsibility during discussion sessions
• The circles will meet daily/weekly and the
  discussion roles change at each meeting

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How do Literature Circles Work?

• Students all read the same text (in groups)
• The text genre can vary (short story, novel,
  textbooks, brochures, internet documents)
• Texts which evoke more than one interpretation or
  connection are usually more successful
• Everyone is free to offer comments and questions

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Distinctive Features of Literature Circles

• Students choose their own reading materials
• Small temporary groups are formed based on book
  choice
• Different groups read different books
• Groups meet on a regular, predictable schedule to
  discuss their reading
• Students use written or drawn notes to guide
  their reading and discussion
• Discussion topics come from students

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Distinctive Features of Literature Circles

• Group meetings are open, natural conversations
  about books
• Students can play a rotating assortment of task
  roles
• Teacher is a facilitator, not a group member or
  instructor
• Evaluation is by teacher observation and student
  self-evaluation
• A spirit of playfulness and fun pervades the room
• Readers share with their classmates when books
  are finished, then new groups form around new
  reading choices

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Role of the Teacher

• The teacher is a model. The teacher speaks as one
  seeking insights.
• The teacher helps students to participate in
  conversations
• The teacher helps move the conversation forward
• The teacher supports literary learning by
  supplying students with concepts and terms

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Possible Discussion Roles

• Artful Artist
• Summarizer
• Literary Luminary
• Word Wizard
• Connector
• Discussion Leader

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ARTFUL ARTIST

• Draw some kind of picture related to the
  readingcould be a sketch, cartoon, diagram,
  flow-chart, or stick-figure scene.

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SUMMARIZER

• Prepares a brief summary of todays reading
  which conveys the main highlights or the key
  points in the pages read.

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LITERARY LUMINARY

• points out interesting or important passages
  within the readingcould be interesting,
  powerful, funny, puzzling or important

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WORD WIZARD

• On the lookout for words in the text that are
  unusual, interesting, or difficult to understand
• Defines and discusses these words with the group

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CONNECTOR

• finds connections between the reading material
  and the outside worldsuch as personal
  experience, school, community, a topic studied in
  another class, or a different work of literature

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DISCUSSION LEADER

• Directs the discussion
• Helps people talk over the big ideas in the
  reading and share their reactions (could be
  thoughts, feelings and concerns which arise)
• Writes questions that will lead to discussion by
  the group
• (Questions must be higher level thinking
  questions!)

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What are higher level thinking questions?

• Questions that cannot be answered with just yes
  or no
• Requires thought by each member of the group

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Good Discussion Starters

• How did you feel about
• What would you have done if
• How are you like or unlike the main character?

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Good Discussion Starters

• What would you have done differently than the
  main character?
• What did you think about

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Suggestions for the roles

• Teach each role to the whole class
• Encourage student to ask questions from the
  perspective of their role
• Choose only the most useful roles for a
  particular discussion
• Rotate students through the roles

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What should students do in the discussion groups?

• STUDENTS SHOULD
• Actively participate
• Explain their role to the group, ask group
  members questions, and answer questions from each
  group member
• Ask for clarification on any material that may
  have been confusing

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How will class time be used?

• On literature circle day, the first 15-20 minutes
  will be spent in discussion groups to give the
  students the opportunity to share their job
  responsibilities with the group.
• New jobs and reading assignments will be assigned
  for the next class meeting
• Reading the text individually or as a group
• Working on activities dealing with the text

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How much time should be allowed for each book?

• It should take about 3-4 weeks for each book to
  be read

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How are books chosen?

• Choices are nominated and students choose the
  order they want to read in

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OUTCOMESBy participating in Literature Circles,
students will

• Read a book of their choice with a group who has
  also chosen this book
• Brainstorm with their group to identify questions
  they will answer while reading
• Discuss the book and work out a shared
  understanding of it
• Pass on this understanding to the whole class
  group, therefore working through all the steps in
  the information skills process

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To achieve these outcomes, the students will

• Choose a book
• Play a role in discussions of the book
• Keep a diary in response to the book
• Present as a group, a five minute response to the
  book or a project

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How will students be graded?

• Students will be graded on
• Having your job completed each day and being
  ready for discussion group
• Teacher evaluates by observation during
  discussion
• Final project/presentation when book is finished
• Students evaluate their own progress at the end
  of the literature circle

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It is important for students to

• Participate!!
• Keep up with their reading assignments
• Keep up with their role in the group
• Respect others and their opinions
• Treat group members in a positive waythe way
  they want to be treated

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