Literature Circles

Literature Circles are my pet project.  I absolutely love them!  They are an absolutely glorious way to teach literature (in my opinion, of course)!  This upcoming year being my 2nd year of teaching there are many things I am not:


I am not:

1. A Master of All Things Literature Circle
2. The First or Last Person to Try Literature Circles
3. The Definitive Source of Literature Circle Expertise
4. Organized.  (But I am working on it!)

I am, however:

1. Open-minded and willing to try new things
2. Willing to experiment
3. Relatively technology-savvy
4. Success Driven

In order to fully embrace Literature Circles, you have to be willing to relinquish a little bit of that control that we teachers love so much. We have to become facilitators so that our students can do the learning.  The qualities that I do and do not possess demonstrate many of the aspects of literature circles and the ways I have had to adapt myself to make them more successful.


Let's start with what makes Literature Circles so effective:

• Students learn how to work cooperatively
• Students become responsible for their part in the group
• Students teach each other concepts they've discovered
• Students use higher level thinking and questioning skills 
• Students discuss literature with their peers.

Yeah, yeah.......  That's all well and good, Mrs. M., but how do they work?


How do they work?  Well, let me tell you:

In the most basic way, Literature Circles are like a book club.  Students are grouped together based on interest, ability level, or both and they read the same novel. They are given specific jobs (roles) to complete for each section of reading.   Then they discuss the book.  Pretty basic, huh?

I usually divide my students into groups of five.  Once they are in their group, the readings are divided into fifths.  Each time we complete a section of reading, each member of the group has a role to complete.  These 5 roles are:

1. Questioner/Discussion Director
2. Illustrator
3. Summarizer
4. Connector
5. Literary Luminary
6. (and sometimes Word Wizard)

Students must complete their role in order to participate in discussion.  

It sounds simple, right?  Well, it is.  Once the students get used to it and once you decide how to assess them.  


Challenges:

• Assessment (can take the form of checklists, peer/teacher evaluations, role sheet scoring, reader response, etc.  It's up to the teacher)
• Letting go of the reigns.  (Let the kids go...they'll be fine.  Facilitate discussion but don't manipulate it)
• Time (Most of the time is in prepping the kids for Lit. Circles.  Once they've got it, they run with it)
• Flexibility (We have got to be flexible.  Sometimes there are snow days, sometimes we have assemblies, sometimes we need to go over a section as a class because it's confusing.  Bend.  Like a willow...it won't hurt....I promise)