Literature Circles
What is a Literature Circle?
A literature circle is a students' equivalent of an adult book club, but with greater structure, expectation and rigor. The aim is to encourage thoughtful discussion and a love of reading in young people. The true intent of literature circles is "to allow students to practice and develop the skills and strategies of good readers". (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature_Circles) Below you will find a copy of the letter I sent home about Literature Circles and a copy of the student package.
|
Literature Circle Roles:
Why do literature circles:
"Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. Collaboration is at the heart of this approach. Students reshape and add onto their understanding as they construct meaning with other readers. Finally, literature circles guide students to deeper understanding of what they read through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response." Schlick Noe, K. L. & Johnson. N.L., Getting Started with Literature Circles , 1999 Christopher-Gordon Publishers, Inc. p. ix. |
How do Literature Circles work:
1. Students choose a French novel. 2. Small groups are formed, based upon book choice 3. Different groups read different books 4. Students must read the assigned pages decided by their group and complete their role sheet every week. 5. Groups meet every Thursday to discuss their reading. 6. Students use their role sheets to guide both their reading and discussion. 7. Each week students take upon a new role. 8. Discussion topics come from the students 9. Group meetings aim to be open, natural conversations about books, so personal connections, digressions, and open-ended questions are welcome. 10. The teacher serves as a facilitator, not a group member or instructor 11. During Literature Circles each student is provided with the opportunity to participate in the conversation and engage in critical thinking. 12. Evaluation is by teacher observation and student self-evaluation. Final Project:Students will be working with their lit groups to complete their final project. They need to choose 1 of the 4 options. Below is a copy of the project options:
Other resources on Literature Circles: (for parents and teachers) |