Literature circles have no recipe, they are not a specific "program", and they never look the same from year to year -- or even from day to day. The reason? True engagement with literature within a community of learners can't possibly be prescribed -- it can only be described. (Excerpt from Literature Circles Resource Center:

Classroom Climate Developing collaboration and respect: for students to work in groups effectively.Developing collaboration and respect: for students to work in groups effectively. Independence and responsibility: you have to be able to trust your students for literature circles to work!Independence and responsibility: you have to be able to trust your students for literature circles to work! Model story elements daily in read aloud. Start modeling at the beginning of the year so that when you begin literature circles, some concepts will be firmly understood.Model story elements daily in read aloud. Start modeling at the beginning of the year so that when you begin literature circles, some concepts will be firmly understood.

Structure Provide choice Book talks Preview choice Teach students how to make good choices Have students make choices

OPTIONS TO SUPPORT READING  Independent reading  Paired reading  Read the book at home  Resource Support  Parent Reading

Discussion Introduce discussion (this is part that needs the most modeling and work on the part of the teacher!) Student generated lists (role sheets or questions in journals) Quote and question (teach students to write down quotes from the book and pose questions to share in groups) Journal prompts (students share responses in groups) Polish and praise/piggyback (model how to take a group member’s comments and add more to it or to use that idea to generate more ideas!)

What to do when a discussion bombs! Avoid the “rescue”: you will be their strategy afterwards! Meet with the group afterwards; let them come to conclusions about what happened Have the group set a goal for the next meeting Provide group self-assessment forms Provide more mini-lessons on discussion Developing good discussions takes time, changes from group to group & book to book!

Gathering Information Post-it Notes Bookmarks Golden Lines Discussion logs Role Sheets

Assessing Discussions Anecdotal Notes Student Evaluation Rubrics

Response Journals Share the importance with students (these will be used in group discussions, to show their understanding & enjoyment of the story, used instead of role sheets Use open-ended prompts (avoid yes/no questions with “why” afterwards, promote higher level thinking) Use questions that came up during discussions in groups Model journal entries from your own class Use other forms of response than just prompts (i.e.- letter writing, talking to characters, etc.)

Focus Lessons Reading, Writing and Response Strategies Genre Characteristics Literary Elements Procedure Focus Lessons Reading, Writing and Response Student Needs Anything your students are struggling with in literature circles should become a focus lesson the next day!

Extension Projects Simple or Complex: one hour projects or lengthier projects Examples/Ideas: provide models if you feel it is necessary; have students share their ideas and plan before starting Assessment Ideas: Self-reflection Criteria checklists Evaluating presentations Debriefing