1. Introduction to Literature Circles

2. What are Literature Circles?
“professional book clubs"
Small discussion groups of students who are reading the same book
Each member has a job, which changes each meeting

3. Literature Circles Jobs
Discussion Director
Connector
Literary Luminary
Vocabulary Enricher
Character Analyzer
Investigator (Extra member)

4. DISCUSSION DIRECTOR: Directs discussion
Prepares higher-level thinking questions that lead to discussion by the group

5. CONNECTOR: Find connections between the book and the outside world.
Can be connected to your life, what is happening in your community, similar events at other times and places, or to other people and problems.

6. LITERARY LUMINARY Points out important passages within the reading
interesting
powerful
funny
puzzling
important
Provides rationale

7. VOCABULARY ENRICHER
Completes vocabulary squares and learns meaning of the five words provided
Defines and discusses these words with the group
Teaches words to group

8. CHARACTER ANALYZER
Chooses a character and completes the character chart
Identifies the character’s physical and personality traits
Finds quotes to support them

9. Investigator
Find background information on any topic related to the text.
Geography/culture of the setting
History of the time period
Background on the author
Music, objects, or word derivation
Investigator keeps a record of where they looked for information and whether or not they were successful.

10. PENALTIES During your first group meeting, decide on penalties for:
Absent students
Incomplete job sheets
Non-participation
Remember, you will lose points and/or have more work to do if other students don’t do their part.

11. PROCEDURES Before Meeting Complete required reading
Complete role/job sheets

12. PROCEDURES During Meeting Discuss your role/job sheet
Talk about anything interesting, confusing, exciting, etc. (everyone MUST participate)

13. PROCEDURES After/At the End of Meeting Assign jobs and role sheets
Complete Evaluation Sheet
Turn in job sheets and evaluations

14. “CIRCLE TIME” - Model
35 minutes - share job responsibilities with group members and have an open conversation about the book
5 minutes – assign new jobs for next class meeting
5 minutes – completing the group evaluation