Literature Literature CirclesCircles

Essential QuestionEssential QuestionHow can the use of literature circles How can the use of literature circles increase student enjoyment and increase student enjoyment and understanding when they read a understanding when they read a novel?novel?

Literature CirclesLiterature CirclesLiterature circles Literature circles

bring together two bring together two

ideas:ideas:

Independent reading

Cooperative learning

What are Literature What are Literature Circles?Circles?

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

What are Literature What are Literature Circles?Circles?

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

What do students do in What do students do in literature circles?literature circles?

Read independently or with their Read independently or with their groupgroup

Participate in group discussionsParticipate in group discussionsEach group member will have a Each group member will have a

specific responsibility (role) during specific responsibility (role) during discussion sessionsdiscussion sessions

The circles will meet daily and focus The circles will meet daily and focus on one discussion role at each on one discussion role at each meeting until you have practiced each meeting until you have practiced each rolerole

How do Literature Circles How do Literature Circles Work?Work?

Students all read the same text (in groups)Students all read the same text (in groups) You will read a novelYou will read a novel Students are involved in creating questions Students are involved in creating questions

based on the reading, having natural based on the reading, having natural conversations about the text and taking notesconversations about the text and taking notes

Students use written or drawn notes to guide Students use written or drawn notes to guide their reading and discussiontheir reading and discussion

Teacher is a facilitator, not a group member or Teacher is a facilitator, not a group member or instructorinstructor

Evaluation is by teacher observation and student self-evaluation or reflection

Qualities of a Qualities of a Literature CircleLiterature Circle

Active Listener Active Listener Looks at the speaker Looks at the speaker Gives the speaker full attention Gives the speaker full attention Doesn’t talk while the speaker is talking Doesn’t talk while the speaker is talking Doesn’t do anything distracting Doesn’t do anything distracting

Supportive Supportive Positive Positive Never criticizes Never criticizes Disagrees politely Disagrees politely

Participates Participates Takes part in discussions willingly Takes part in discussions willingly Demonstrates “thinking” during discussions Demonstrates “thinking” during discussions Does not “tune out” after presenting job Does not “tune out” after presenting job

Qualities of a Literature Qualities of a Literature CircleCircle

Cooperative Cooperative Follows directions of group leader Follows directions of group leader Flexible, willing to move chair, etc. Flexible, willing to move chair, etc.

Prepared Prepared Work is done on time Work is done on time Work is complete Work is complete

Personal Best Personal Best Work reflects best effort Work reflects best effort

Role of the TeacherRole of the Teacher

The teacher models each role of the The teacher models each role of the literature group. literature group.

The teacher helps students to The teacher helps students to participate in conversationsparticipate in conversations

The teacher helps move the The teacher helps move the conversation forwardconversation forward

Discussion Roles:Discussion Roles:Vocabulary EnricherVocabulary EnricherConnectorConnectorSummarizer Summarizer Discussion DirectorDiscussion Director

Vocabulary Enricher:Vocabulary Enricher:On the lookout for On the lookout for

words in the text words in the text that are unusual, that are unusual, interesting, or interesting, or difficult to difficult to understandunderstand

Defines and Defines and discusses these discusses these words with the groupwords with the group

Connector:Connector:finds connections between the finds connections between the reading material and the outside reading material and the outside world – personal experience, school, world – personal experience, school, community, a topic studied in community, a topic studied in another class or a book you have another class or a book you have readread

Summarizer:Summarizer:Prepares a brief summary of Prepares a brief summary of

“today’s reading” “today’s reading” which which conveys the main highlights conveys the main highlights

or the key points in the or the key points in the pages read.pages read.

Discussion Director:Discussion Director:Directs the discussionDirects the discussionHelps people talk over the Helps people talk over the

big ideas in the reading big ideas in the reading and share their reactions and share their reactions (could be thoughts, (could be thoughts, feelings and concerns)feelings and concerns)

Writes questions that will Writes questions that will lead to discussion by the lead to discussion by the group group (Questions must be higher (Questions must be higher level thinking questions!)level thinking questions!)

What are higher level What are higher level thinking questions?thinking questions?

Questions that cannot be answered with just Questions that cannot be answered with just yes or noyes or no

Requires thought by each member of the groupRequires thought by each member of the group

Use the Literature Circle question stems or the Use the Literature Circle question stems or the Task Cards to help youTask Cards to help you

Good Discussion Good Discussion StartersStarters What would you have done differently than the What would you have done differently than the

main character?main character?

What did you think about…What did you think about…

What does the word ____mean?What does the word ____mean?

How are you like or unlike the main character?How are you like or unlike the main character?

How did you feel about . . .How did you feel about . . .

What should students do in What should students do in the discussion groups?the discussion groups?

STUDENTS SHOULD:STUDENTS SHOULD: Actively participateActively participate Ask group members questions, and Ask group members questions, and

answer questions from each group answer questions from each group membermember

Engage in great conversations about the Engage in great conversations about the book they are reading book they are reading

Ask for clarification on any material that Ask for clarification on any material that may have been confusingmay have been confusing

How will class time be How will class time be used?used?

Each day you will have about 45 minutes to meet with Each day you will have about 45 minutes to meet with your group to read assigned pages of the novel and your group to read assigned pages of the novel and then engage in great conversations about what you then engage in great conversations about what you readread

You will receive reading assignments each day that You will receive reading assignments each day that each group must complete.each group must complete.

You can read the text individually or as a group using You can read the text individually or as a group using cloze reading, finish the sentence cloze reading, finish the sentence or or choral choral readingreading

Completing specific assignments at the end of each Completing specific assignments at the end of each dayday

OUTCOMESOUTCOMESBy participating in Literature By participating in Literature

Circles, students will:Circles, students will: Read an interesting book with their groupRead an interesting book with their group

Brainstorm with their group to identify questions they will answer while reading

Students will have engaging conversations about what they read to share thoughts, ideas and feelings about what they read

Groups will have opportunity to share their thoughts about the book with the whole class

To achieve these To achieve these outcomes, the students outcomes, the students

will:will: Read a bookRead a book

Play a role in Play a role in discussions of the bookdiscussions of the book

Keep a response journal Keep a response journal as you read the book to as you read the book to jot down ideas to sharejot down ideas to share

Present as a group, a Present as a group, a five minute response to five minute response to the book the book

How will students be How will students be graded?graded?

Students will be graded on:Students will be graded on:Having your job completed each day Having your job completed each day

and being ready for discussion groupand being ready for discussion groupTeacher evaluates by observation Teacher evaluates by observation

during discussionduring discussionFinal project/presentation when book is Final project/presentation when book is

finishedfinishedStudents evaluate their own progress Students evaluate their own progress

at the end of the literature circle each at the end of the literature circle each dayday

It is important for students It is important for students to:to:

Participate!!Participate!!Keep up with their reading Keep up with their reading

assignmentsassignmentsKeep up with their role in the Keep up with their role in the

groupgroupRespect others and their opinionsRespect others and their opinionsTreat group members in a Treat group members in a

positive way—the way they want positive way—the way they want to be treatedto be treated

QuestionsQuestions

Revisiting Essential Revisiting Essential QuestionQuestion

How can the use of literature circles How can the use of literature circles increase student enjoyment and increase student enjoyment and understanding when they read a understanding when they read a novel? novel?