LITERATURE CIRCLES Literature circles bring together two potent ideas: Independent reading Cooperative learning

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES Students choose own reading materials Small temporary groups formed based on book choice Different groups read different books Groups meet on regular, predictable schedule to discuss their reading Students use written or drawn notes to guide both their reading and discussion Discussion topics come from the students

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES Group meetings are open, natural conversations about books Students can play a rotating assortment of task roles Teacher is a facilitator, not a group member or instructor Evaluation is by teacher observation and student self- evaluation A spirit of playfulness and fun pervades the room Readers share with their classmates when books are finished, then new groups form around new reading choices

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LITERATURE CIRCLES How long shoul d the circle run? Each cycle takes about three weeks, which means there’s about two books read in each literature circle.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LITERATURE CIRCLES How many classes can be engaged during the same term? Ideally, no more than six.

PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LITERATURE CIRCLES How many titles are required? About six of each.

Choices are nominated and students choose the order they want to read in. How do you go about choosing a book? PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR LITERATURE CIRCLES

WHAT IS THE CLASSROOM TEACHER’S ROLE IN ALL THIS? To work collaboratively with the Teacher Librarian. Allocate roles to students in the group. Enforce the information skills process which means small group presentation to the whole class group at end of the circle.

CENTRING THE LITERATURE CIRCLE AROUND THE INFORMATION SKILLS PROCESS Brainstorm what questions are to be answered from the reading of the text Keep reading logs Locate answers through reading Discussion often leads to new questions

CENTRING THE LITERATURE CIRCLE AROUND THE INFORMATION SKILLS PROCESS Synthesis of answers (pull things together from a variety of places and put them together to make something new that is your own) Organise and evaluate information then present to class aurally or in a written form

INFORMATION SKILLS PROCESS Recognise a need for information Be able to identify what information is required Locate required information Know what information you’re looking for Evaluate the information Organise and use information effectively

OUTCOMES By taking part in a literature circle you will: Read a book of your choice with a group who have also chosen this book Brainstorm with your group to identify questions you will answer in your reading Discuss the book and work out a shared understanding of it Pass on this understanding to the whole class group, therefore working through all the steps in the information skills process.

TO ACHIEVE THE OUTCOMES YOU WILL : Choose a book Play a role in discussions of the book Keep a diary of your response to the book Present as a group, a five minute response to the book

EVALUATION Teacher evaluates by observation during discussions and marking of reading logs. Students evaluate their own progress at the end of the literature circle.

SUMMARY OF ROLES Discussion Direc t or Summariser Literary Luminary Illustrator Investigator Vocabulary Enricher

ROLES in a LITERATURE CIRCLE Directs the discussion. Helps people talk over the big ideas in the reading and share their reactions. Could be thoughts, feelings and concerns which arise. Discussion Director

ROLES in a LITERATURE CIRCLE Prepares a brief summary of “today’s reading” which conveys the main highlights or the key points in the pages read. Summariser

ROLES in a LITERATURE CIRCLE Locate parts of the text to read aloud to the group. Could be interesting, powerful, funny, puzzling or important. Literary Luminary

ROLES in a LITERATURE CIRCLE Draw some kind of picture related to the reading. Could be sketch, cartoon, diagram, flow-chart or stick-figure scene. Illustrator

ROLES in a LITERATURE CIRCLE Find connections between the book and the outside world. School, community, events in other times or places. Connector

ROLES in a LITERATURE CIRCLE Dig up one piece of background information on any topic related to the book - geography, weather, culture, author, time period, history of book’s setting. Investigator

ROLES in a LITERATURE CIRCLE On the look out for a few especially important words in today’s reading - puzzling, unfamiliar, repeated a lot, unusual. Vocabulary Enricher

LITERARY CIRCLES THE END