1. Literature Circles

2. What are Literature Circles?
Literature Circles are…
Literature Circles are not…
Reader response centered
Teacher and text centered
Part of a balanced literacy program
The entire reading curriculum
Groups formed by book choice
Groups formed based on ability
Structured for student independence, responsibility, and ownership
Unstructured, uncontrolled "talk time" without accountability
Guided primarily by student insights and questions
Guided primarily by teacher- or curriculum-based questions
Intended as a context in which to apply reading and writing skills
Intended as a place to do skills work
Flexible and fluid; never look the same twice
Tied to a prescriptive "recipe"

3. Literature Circle Expectations
Work together
Come prepared and ready to discuss
Do your job for the day
Talk quietly taking turns
Be respectful of your group members
No arguing or fighting

4. Roles in a Literature Circle
Summarizer
Discussion Leader
Word Wizard
Illustrator
Real-life connector
Story connector

5. Plan for Literature Circles
Each day we will review the roles and expectations of literature circles.
You will have 20 minutes to read to a certain page and prepare 3 things to share in literature circles, these can be questions or vocabulary words that you do not know.
We will then break into our groups and begin discussing.
The discussion leader for that group is responsible for leading an organized discussion.
All jobs for must be discussed during circle time.

6. Literature Circles
Group 1: Jayden, Victor, Yesenia, Joshua, Leann, Grant, and Aaron Group 2: Rocky, Christopher, Jasmine, Kayla, Lorena, Dailyn Group 3: Tania, Connor, Marcos, Nate, Daimir, Johanna

7. Monday Summarizer: Jayden, Rocky, Tania
Discussion Leader: Joshua, Leann, Jasmine, Connor
Word Wizard: Victor, Nate, Marcos
Illustrator: Yesenia, Kayla, Christopher
Real-life connector: Grant, Lorena, Daimir
Story Connector: Aaron, Dailyn, Johanna

8. Tuesday Story Connector: Jayden, Rocky, Tania
Summarize: Joshua, Leann, Jasmine, Connor
Discussion Leader: Victor, Nate, Marcos
Word Wizard: Grant, Kayla, Christopher
Illustrator: Yesenia, Lorena, Daimir
Real-life connector: Aaron, Dailyn, Johanna

9. Wednesday Real-life connector: Jayden, Rocky, Tania
Story Connector : Joshua, Leann, Jasmine, Connor
Summarize : Victor, Nate, Marcos
Discussion Leader : Grant, Kayla, Christopher
Word Wizard : Yesenia, Lorena, Daimir
Illustrator : Aaron, Dailyn, Johanna

10. Thursday Illustrator: Jayden, Rocky, Tania
Real-life connector: Joshua, Leann, Jasmine, Connor
Story Connector: Victor, Nate, Marcos
Summarize: Grant, Kayla, Christopher
Discussion Leader: Yesenia, Lorena, Daimir
Word Wizard: Aaron, Dailyn, Johanna

11. Friday Word Wizard: Jayden, Rocky, Tania
Illustrator: Joshua, Leann, Jasmine, Connor
Real-life connector: Victor, Nate, Marcos
Story Connector: Grant, Kayla, Christopher
Summarize: Yesenia, Lorena, Daimir
Discussion Leader: Aaron, Dailyn, Johanna