Introduction to Introduction to Literature CirclesLiterature Circles

Challenged Book ProjectChallenged Book Project

What are Literature Circles?What are Literature Circles?

• ““professional book clubs"professional book clubs"• small discussion groups of small discussion groups of

students who are reading the students who are reading the same booksame book

• each member has a job, which each member has a job, which changes each meetingchanges each meeting

Literature Circles JobsLiterature Circles Jobs Discussion DirectorDiscussion Director Illustrator Illustrator Literary LuminaryLiterary Luminary Vocabulary Enricher Vocabulary Enricher Character Analyzer Character Analyzer

DISCUSSION DIRECTOR:

•directs discussiondirects discussion•prepares higher-level thinking prepares higher-level thinking questions that lead to discussion questions that lead to discussion by the groupby the group

ILLUSTRATOR • prepares picture related to prepares picture related to

reading —sketch, cartoon, reading —sketch, cartoon, diagram, flow-chart, or diagram, flow-chart, or stick-figure stick-figure scene

• explains rationale explains rationale

LITERARY LUMINARY• points out important passages within the reading points out important passages within the reading

interestinginteresting powerfulpowerful funnyfunny puzzlingpuzzling importantimportant

• provides rationale provides rationale

VOCABULARY ENRICHER

• completes vocabulary squares and completes vocabulary squares and learns meaning of the learns meaning of the five words providedfive words provided

• defines and discusses thesedefines and discusses thesewords with the groupwords with the group

• teaches words to group teaches words to group

CHARACTER ANALYZER

• chooses a character and chooses a character and completes the character completes the character chart chart

• identifies the character’s identifies the character’s physical and personality physical and personality traitstraits

• finds quotes to support finds quotes to support them them

GROUP EVALUATION

• At the end of each At the end of each meeting, complete a meeting, complete a group evaluation sheet.group evaluation sheet.

• Be honest so that you Be honest so that you can improve the next can improve the next meeting!meeting!

SUMMARIES• Each individual student writes

important events of assigned reading on notebook paper.

• Summaries can be written in paragraph format or bullet points.

• Include any questions that you had about the reading on your summary page.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

• Decide as a group who Decide as a group who is completing which is completing which questions.questions.

• Choose Choose twotwo each for each for Discussions #1 and #2. Discussions #1 and #2. Do all for #3.Do all for #3.

• Complete individual Complete individual written responseswritten responses to to discussion questions discussion questions by due dates.by due dates.

PROCEDURESBefore Meeting 1.1.Complete required readingComplete required reading2.2.Complete role/job sheetsComplete role/job sheets3.3.Complete discussion questions by Complete discussion questions by due dates.due dates.4.4.Complete parts of final projectComplete parts of final project

PROCEDURESDuring Meeting 1.1.Discuss your role/job sheetDiscuss your role/job sheet2.2.Talk about anything interesting, Talk about anything interesting, confusing, exciting, etc. (everyone confusing, exciting, etc. (everyone MUSTMUST participate)participate)3.3.Share thoughts about discussion Share thoughts about discussion questionsquestions4.4.Discuss/compare researchDiscuss/compare research5.5.Work on Final Project Work on Final Project

PROCEDURESAfter/At the End of Meeting 1.1.Assign jobs and role sheetsAssign jobs and role sheets

– Job WheelJob Wheel

2.2.Complete Evaluation SheetComplete Evaluation Sheet– Group evaluation - discussionGroup evaluation - discussion

3.3.Turn in job sheets and evaluationsTurn in job sheets and evaluations

FINAL PROJECTPowerPoint Presentation•Create a presentation for the school Create a presentation for the school board promoting your book and board promoting your book and defending free speech.defending free speech.

“CIRCLE TIME” - Model• 15-30 minutes - share job 15-30 minutes - share job

responsibilities with group members responsibilities with group members and have an open conversation about and have an open conversation about the bookthe book

• 5 minutes – assign new jobs for next 5 minutes – assign new jobs for next class meetingclass meeting

• 10-15 minutes – share discussion 10-15 minutes – share discussion question responsesquestion responses

• discuss/work on final projectdiscuss/work on final project• group evaluations group evaluations

ASSESSMENT Based on: • Role SheetsRole Sheets• Evaluation Sheets Evaluation Sheets • SummariesSummaries• Discussion Question ResponsesDiscussion Question Responses• Final Project Final Project

PENALTIES• During your first group meeting, During your first group meeting,

decide on penalties for:decide on penalties for:– Absent studentsAbsent students– Incomplete job sheetsIncomplete job sheets– Non-participationNon-participation

• Remember, you will lose points Remember, you will lose points and/or have more work to do if and/or have more work to do if other students don’t do their other students don’t do their part.part.