Literature Circles: Negotiating Reading Comprehension

through Structured Discussion Groups

Presented by

Renee Hester

& Eileen DeLuca

Edison State College NADE Conference 2014

March 4-8 2014

Literature Circles is a method that encourages students to

Choose their own reading materials

Form temporary groups based on books of choice

Meet on a regular, predictable schedule

Use written or drawn notes to guide reading and discussion

Have open, natural conversations about books, short stories, and articles

Engage in self and peer evaluation

(Adapted from Daniels, 2002, p.18)

Adult Book Clubs are Burgeoning

Publishers Support

Internet Book Clubs

Oprahs Book Club

Young Adult Literature is Blooming

National Literacy Standards endorse Literature Circles

Abundant Professional Literature and Research Base

(Adapted from Daniels, 2002, pp. 3-9)

Supportive Trends

Sample Schedule and Procedures

1st Day of Class

Discuss Literature Circles (handouts provided)

Procedures

Role Sheets

Novels, Short Stories, Articles

Project

2nd 4th Classes

Discuss Literature Circles (handouts provided)

Preview Novels Bring copies of each for students to preview

5th Class

Choose Novel (book selection form) Select two

Tally them & group students according to novel choice

4/5 to a novel

They may not all get their 1st choice

Provide Instructional Assistance in Lab with novel titles and number of each neededdates & times the classes will arrive

Example: Book Selection Form

Name______________________________

Directions: Read the short description of each book. On the

lines below, WRITE the title of the novel youd like to read. Be sure to write to write your 1st and 2nd choice!

1. ________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________

7th Class

Check out novels from our Reading/English Lab Take entire class to Lab

7th Class (Continued) Return to class to plan the next 5 weeks

Students Complete Planning Sheet (white)

Divide novel into 5 weeks may need assistance(?).

If using article or short story, planning sheet involves assigning roles only.

7th Class (Continued)

Role Sheets (pastel colored)

Choose 5 role sheets

Put name, date, week & assigned chapters on each role sheet

Transfer Roles for each week to Planning Sheet

Turn in Planning Sheet (white)

Make 4 copies for subsequent weeks

Turn in ALL Role Sheets except Week 1 (pastel colored)

Role Sheets: Questioner /Discussion

Director

Role Sheets: Vocabulary

Enricher/Word Wizard

Role Sheets: Travel Tracer

Role Sheets: Summarizer

Role Sheets: Character Conflict

Connector

Role Sheets:

Illustrator

Role Sheets:

Illustrator

Role Sheets:

Illustrator

Planning

Planning

Planning

9th Class 1st Literature Circle

30 45 minutes Subsequent literature circles will be roughly 15-25

minutes Once students are in their groupswalk them through

Examples of each role (how to proceed/start) Walk around and assist as needed (reluctant

students) Complete Group Record Sheet (white - planning sheet)

Go over the two questions & group participation chart

* Collect Planning Sheet (white) & disperse the next weeks

role sheets (pastel colored)

1st Session-Walk Through

Literature Circles in Action

Questioner-Experienced

Travel Tracer-New

Travel Tracer-Experienced

Word Wizard-New

Illustrator-New

Illustrator-Experienced

Summarizer-New

Making Connections-Experienced

Group Discussion

Sheet

Group Discussion Sheet

Literature Circles Activity #1: Novels

Stargirl pp. 1-12

Forged by Fire pp. 1-19

Barcode Tattoo pp. 3-21

The Breadwinner pp. 7-18

The Giver pp.1-19

Literature Circles Activity #2: Short Stories

The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck

A Worn Path by Eudora Welty

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

The Fat Girl by Andre Dubus

Life after High School by Joyce Carol Oates

Project for Literature Circles: Advertisements for Novels

Spring 2011 n=29

Fall 2011 n=40

Spring 2012 n=26

Fall 2012 n=31

Spring 2013 n=24

What did you like best about participating in Literature Circles?

Being involved with a group and communicating with others.

I got to understand more what I was reading, and being able to express our feelings with others makes you open up your mind to what we read.

I liked the fact that we were able to actually discuss the novel rather then take a test on it. I just found it to be a much easier and fun way of reading.

What did you like best about participating in Literature Circles?

I personally like this better than taking tests because while taking tests it becomes overly stressful, and you just don't learn anything. With literature circles you actually have fun while learning

It helps me discuss about the books and what I don't understand sometimes my group explains it to me

What did you like best about participating in Literature Circles?

I really enjoyed how it made reading more interactive, and not so textbook boring.

In my opinion, the role sheets make people more involved with the book and understand it more!

I like that we broke it down week by week.

I liked discussing my interpretation of the novel with my class mates and hearing their point of views on it.

What did you like best about participating in Literature Circles?

I enjoyed it because it felt good that I wasn't doing all the work for once. Also, seeing my fellow classmates sharing their ideas about the book and its events.

What I liked best about participating in literature circles is the fact that I get to listen to others point of view of the story. Being able to put others opinions and how they picture the story compared to your own is impressive and makes the story more interesting.

What would you change or improve about Literature Circles?

Most Common Response: Nothing. If everyone in the group has read they can stay in

the group for the day, if they chose not to read they have to take a test right then while everyone else is doing literature circles.

Probably the only thing I would change would be, the question on the back. I like how you asked us to make a connection with the reading, but sometimes I felt it was repetitive, and I got a little lazy with my responces. So maybe just switch up the back question every now and then.

References

Daniels, H. (2002). Literature circles: Voice and choice in book clubs and reading groups. Markham, Ontario: Pembroke Publishers Ltd.

Johnson, N, & Schlick-Noe (1999). Getting started with literature circles. Norwood, MA: Christopher Gordon.

Literature Circles Adapted from Harvey Daniels by Peggy Van Voorhis & Renee Hester

Literature Circles are modeled on Adult Book Clubs and encourage enjoyment of reading

and comprehension.

TWO IMPORTANT RULES:

Enjoy!

Dont read ahead!

Technique:

1. Form groups based on interest in reading specific pieces of good literature. Book will be completed in approximately five weeks (see syllabus for dates).

2. Choose a role for next week: Questioner/Discussion Director (lilac), Summarizer (gray), Vocabulary/Word Wizard (blue), Literary Luminary (pink), Travel

Tracer/Tracker (salmon), Character Conflict/Education (green) or Illustrator

(yellow). The Discussion Director will facilitate the Group Record Sheet

(orange/red) to turn in. Everyone will have a chance to do each role at least once.

*Everyone will also be a Connector. This is probably the most important

role in reading. When we connect to what we are reading we have good

comprehension. Your job is to find connections between the book and the wider

world. This means connecting the reading to your own past experiences, to

present experiences, to the community, to stories in the news, to similar events at

other times and places, and to other people and problems that you are reminded

of. You may also see connections between this book and other writings on the

same topic, or other books. You can also try to connect reading skills discussed in

class with your current novel. A place for you to write your connection is on

everyones role sheet. Be sure to bring up your connections in discussion. 3. Determine reading assignments (pages or chapters to be read) for each week. You

will be dividing the book into fifths (five weeks) and reading one fifth each week.

4. Read the allotted pages at home and complete your role sheet for each meeting. 5. Meet with your group and discuss the book using your role sheets as guides 20

minutes. It is important you are prepared. Follow by completing the Group

Record Sheet as a group and confirm pages/chapters for the next week and new

roles.

6. Five minute sharing with entire class.

ENJOY!!!

Suggested Titles for Literature Circles

Novels

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

Forged by Fire by Sharon M. Draper

Barcode Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn

The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Breath, Eyes, Memory by Edwidge Danticat

The Red Umbrella by Christina Gonzalez

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

Hope was Here by Joan Bauer

Swallowing Stones by Joyce McDonald

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins

Short Stories

The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

Life After High School by Joyce Carol Oates

The Fat Girl by Andre Dubus

A Worn Path by Eudora Welty

The Chrysanthemums by John Steinbeck

White Chocolate by Robin Brancato

A Brief Moment in the Life of Angus Bethune by Chris Crutcher

http://www.npr.org/2012/08/07/157795366/your-favorites-100-best-ever-teen-novels

Top 100 Teen Books

The Printable List

August 07, 2012 7:00 AM

1. Harry Potter (series), by J.K. Rowling

2. The Hunger Games (series), by Suzanne Collins

3. To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee

4. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green

5. The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien

6. The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

7. The Lord of the Rings (series), by J.R.R. Tolkien

8. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury

9. Looking for Alaska, by John Green

10. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak

11. The Giver (series), by Lois Lowry

12. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (series), by Douglas Adams

13. The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton

14. Anne of Green Gables (series), by Lucy Maud Montgomery

15. His Dark Materials (series), by Philip Pullman

16. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky

17. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman

18. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding

19. Divergent (series), by Veronica Roth

20. Paper Towns, by John Green

21. The Mortal Instruments (series), by Cassandra Clare

22. An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green

23. Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes

24. Thirteen Reasons Why, by Jay Asher

25. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon

26. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson

27. Twilight (series), by Stephenie Meyer

28. Uglies (series), by Scott Westerfeld

29. The Infernal Devices (series), by Cassandra Clare

30. Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbitt

31. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, by Sherman Alexie

32. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (series), by Anne Brashares

33. The Call of the Wild, by Jack London

34. Will Grayson, Will Grayson, by John Green, David Levithan

35. Go Ask Alice, by Anonymous

36. Howl's Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones

37. Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli

38. A Separate Peace, by John Knowles

39. Vampire Academy (series), by Richelle Mead

40. Abhorsen Trilogy / Old Kingdom Trilogy (series), by Garth Nix

41. Dune, by Frank Herbert

42. Discworld / Tiffany Aching (series, by Terry Pratchett

43. My Sister's Keeper, by Jodi Picoult

44. The Dark is Rising (series), by Susan Cooper

45. Graceling (series), Kristin Cashore

46. Forever..., by Judy Blume

47. Earthsea (series), by Ursula K. Le Guin

48. Inheritance Cycle (series), by Christopher Paolini

49. The Princess Diaries (series), by Meg Cabot

50. The Song of the Lioness (series), by Tamora Pierce

51. Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson

52. Delirium (series), by Lauren Oliver

53. Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins

54. Hush, Hush Saga (series), by Stephanie Perkins

55. 13 Little Blue Envelopes, by Maureen Johnson

56. It's Kind of a Funny Story, by Ned Vizzini

57. The Gemma Doyle Trilogy (series), by Libba Bray

58. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs

59. The House on Mango Street, by Sandra Cisneros

60. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury

61. The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier

62. Just Listen, by Sarah Dessen

63. A Ring of Endless Light, by Madeleine L'Engle

64. The Truth About Forever, by Sarah Dessen

65. The Bartimaeus Trilogy (series), by Jonathan Stroud

66. Bloodlines (series), by Richelle Mead

67. Fallen (series), by Lauren Kate

68. House of Night (series), by P.C. Cast, Kristin Cast

69. I Capture the Castle, by Dodie Smith

70. Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlsit, by Rachel Cohn, David Levithan

71. Before I Fall, by Lauren Oliver

72. Unwind, by Neal Shusterman

73. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle

74. The Maze Runner Trilogy (series), by James Dashner

75. If I Stay, by Gayle Forman

76. The Blue Sword, by Robin McKinley

77. Crank (series), by Ellen Hopkins

78. Matched (series), by Allie Condie

79. Gallagher Girls (series), by Ally Carter

80. The Goose Girl, by Shannon Hale

81. Daughter of the Lioness / Tricksters (series), by Tamora Pierce

82. I Am the Messenger, by Markus Zusak

83. The Immortals (series), by Tamora Pierce

84. The Enchanted Forest Chronicles (series), by Patricia C. Wrede

85. Chaos Walking (series), by Patrick Ness

86. Circle of Magic (series), by Tamora Pierce

87. Daughter of Smoke & Bone, by Laini Taylor

88. Feed, by M.T. Anderson

89. Weetzie Bat (series), by Francesca Lia Block

90. Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen

91. Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (series), by Louise Rennison

92. Leviathan (series), by Scott Westerfeld

93. The House of the Scorpion, by Scott Westerfeld

94. The Chronicles of Chrestomanci (series), by Diana Wynne Jones

95. The Lullaby, by Sarah Dessen

96. Gone (series), by Michael Grant

97. The Shiver Trilogy (series), by Maggie Stiefvater

98. The Hero and the Crown, by Robin McKinley

99. Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson

100. Betsy-Tacy Books (series), by Maud Hart Lovelace

Literature_Circles_NADE_2014_PDFLiterature_Circles_Presentation_2014Lit_Circles_Guide_SheetsLiterature Circles GuidelinesSuggested TitlesBook_Advertisement_Rubric

Lit Circles - REA0017 packet