Introduce literature circles by explaining they are "groups of people reading the same book and meeting together to discuss what they have read" (Peralta-Nash and Dutch 30). Emphasize the student-centered collaborative nature of the reading strategy by discussing how the strategy places students "in charge of leading their own discussions as well as making decisions for themselves" (Peralta-Nash and Dutch 30).
How do I set up my literature circles?
You can set up your literature circles in a wide variety of ways. Here are a few: Students are grouped according to their reading level. Each group reads a book that is appropriate for that level. Students choose from a list of books. They are then grouped according to the title. Each group reads a different title in a particular genre.
What is a literature circle?
A literature circle (or book club) provides a way for students to dig into books that are at their reading and interest level. working in cooperative groups — each group usually reading a different book working common tasks as they are reading (like collecting vocabulary words, summarizing a section, or responding to a discussion question)
How do I start teaching elementary literature to students?
Before you begin your elementary literature circles, evaluate your students’ current reading abilities to identify their strengths and weaknesses. In addition to looking at their academic needs, it’s important to consider personality, work habits, and peer relationships.
What is the difference between elementary literature circles and book clubs?
Elementary literature circles are more structured and geared toward thoughtful discussion and critical thinking. Book clubs are more relaxed and very much student-driven. Students would base groupings on the book they’d like to read and discuss informally in book clubs.
How do you introduce literature?
Presenting Literature Review in the Introduction and Discussion SectionsIntroduce the topic.Establish the significance of the study.Provide an overview of the relevant literature.Establish a context for the study using the literature.Identify knowledge gaps.Illustrate how the study will advance knowledge on the topic.
How do you prepare a literature circle?
Learning Objectivesidentity the qualities of a good discussion.model strategies that encourage conversation about difficult topics.practice active listening.come to consensus regarding a shared list of discussion norms.engage in meta-conversation about discussion techniques.
How do you introduce students to literature?
5 Strategies for Introducing New Read Alouds in the ClassroomLook at the Book Cover or Title Illustration.Open to the Story and Read the Pictures.Discuss Possible Predictions and Make a List of Questions.Introduce New Vocabulary and Concepts.Relate Concepts to Students' Background Knowledge and Personal Experiences.
What does the teacher do during literature circles?
Collaboration: Literature circles encourage cooperative learning. Students in a circle use each other as resources, and help one another understand what they are reading. This happens by design, of course. In order for a literature circle to be effective, the teacher must provide guidance and support.
What is the purpose of a literature circle?
Literature circles give students the opportunity to talk about books with their peers. Through these conversations they build community, learn critical speaking and listening behaviors, deepen their understanding of books, and… recognize that reading is fun!
What are the three key features of literature circles?
Key features of literature circles Children choose their own reading materials. Small temporary groups are formed, based on book choice. Different groups read different books. Groups meet on a regular predictable schedule.
How do you introduce a lesson?
Five Ways to Start Your LessonsStart with a Video. Everyone loves a good video, especially kids. ... Start with an Object. Another way to get your students wondering about a topic is to show them objects related to the content. ... Start with a Question. ... Start with Movement. ... Start with a Mistake.
How do you teach children literature?
Practical Strategies for Teaching ReadingDedicate classroom time for reading every single day.Allow children to self-select their books.Ensure students have a plan for what they will be reading and why.Teach children that reading preferences are okay but that they should also explore new topics.
How do you introduce a book in a creative example?
Introductions are built from these elements:Hook the reader.Tell a story about the reader's current pain.Tell a story about the reader's potential pleasure.Tell them what they'll learn.Describe the author's background/origin of book.Set up the book with a call to action.
How long should literature circles last?
around four weeksA typical round (completion of one book) of literature circles usually lasts around four weeks, but this is not an absolute for all situations. Now that you know how many weekly sessions you will hold and about how many weeks you would like to spend on a book, divide the books accordingly.
How many students are in a literature circle?
In a literature circle unit, students may only have three or four novels to choose from. Their groups might be anywhere from five to ten students. All of the novel choices will share a key quality such as a theme, historical time period, or author.
How effective are literature circles?
These data show that literature circle reading activities not only improve the students' academic success, self-control, and self-confidence in the process of learning and text analysis, but they also improve the students' social skills such as speaking and participating in discussions.
What is a literature circle in high school?
Literature circles — a small group of students that gathers to discuss a book, much like a book club — are not a new idea, and in fact, remain quite popular because they are incredibly effective.
What is a literature circle in middle school?
Literature circles are when a class of students is given a choice of 4-5 book titles that all share a common thread (theme, genre, author, etc.). The teacher gives a book talk for each book and allows students to express their top reading choices.
How long should literature circles last?
around four weeksA typical round (completion of one book) of literature circles usually lasts around four weeks, but this is not an absolute for all situations. Now that you know how many weekly sessions you will hold and about how many weeks you would like to spend on a book, divide the books accordingly.
Can you do literature circles with different books?
The students may complete several assignments around the text before completing a final essay or project as a capstone to the unit. In a literature circles unit, however, there may be several groups of students with each group reading a different novel.
What is a Literature Circle?
Simply, in a literature circle, students discuss a piece of literature together. Usually, this is done in small groups.
What are the features of literature circles?
One of the great features of literature circles is that they mirror the way readers actually interact with the texts that they read. Literature circles invite students to discuss, question, and debate literature the same way that adults in a book club might.
How Long Should Literature Circles Last?
This will vary a lot depending on the length of your class , the length of the novels, and the outcome goals of the literature circles.
How many books are in a literature circle?
Literature circles tend to be more structured with a focus on an academic outcome than book clubs. In a literature circle unit, students may only have three or four novels to choose from. Their groups might be anywhere from five to ten students.
Why are literature circles important?
A benefit of literature circles is that they encourage student choice. We know that when students feel that they have a say, they are more engaged. Allowing students to choose their text allows them to feel more empowered and involved in their own learning.
How many students are in a book club?
Student groups may be as small as three or four students. Usually, book clubs are focused on getting students to engage with and enjoy a text. Alternatively, literature circles are more focused on getting students to analyze a text.
What are the best teaching strategies for language development?
Literature circles combine some of the most effective teaching strategies we know of for language development: independent reading, collaborative discussion, and student-centered learning.
How to introduce literature circles?
Introduce literature circles by explaining they are "groups of people reading the same book and meeting together to discuss what they have read" (Peralta-Nash and Dutch 30).
What are the roles of literature circles?
Students begin by selecting a book together then are introduced to the four jobs in the Literature Circles: Discussion Director, Literary Luminary, Vocabulary Enricher, and Checker. The teacher and student volunteers model the task for each of the four roles, and then students practice the strategies. The process demonstrates the different roles and allows students to practice the techniques before they are responsible for completing the tasks on their own. After this introduction, students are ready to use the strategy independently, rotating the roles through four-person groups as they read the books they have chosen. The lesson can then be followed with a more extensive literature circle project.
Why should we allow time to discuss the first chapter freely?
Allow time to discuss the first chapter freely in order to show how discussion of questions and ideas that are not on the sheet is also appropriate.
Why are literature circles important?
Literature circles are a strong classroom strategy because of the way that they couple collaborative learning with student-centered inquiry. As they conclude their description of the use of literature circles in a bilingual classroom, Peralta-Nash and Dutch explain the ways that the strategy helped students become stronger readers:
What is the purpose of reading a wide range of literature?
2. Students read a wide range of literature from many periods in many genres to build an understanding of the many dimensions (e.g., philosophical, ethical, aesthetic) of human experience.
Why do students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts?
Students read a wide range of print and nonprint texts to build an understanding of texts, of themselves, and of the cultures of the United States and the world; to acquire new information; to respond to the needs and demands of society and the workplace; and for personal fulfillment. Among these texts are fiction and nonfiction, ...
How to set up a literature circle?
Here are a few: Students are grouped according to their reading level. Each group reads a book that is appropriate for that level. Students choose from a list of books. They are then grouped according to the title.
What are Literature Circles?
A literature circle (or book club) provides a way for students to dig into books that are at their reading and interest level.
What should they read?
Determine what your students will be reading by either their ability level or their interests.
What to ask students to do in a group meeting?
Generally, I ask students to summarize each “chunk” of their reading for the group meetings. Students can share and add to their summaries when they discuss the reading.
How to get students excited about reading?
Get students excited about what they’re reading by setting up a “book tasting” or provide quick previews of what each title is about. You want to make the books as enticing and interesting as possible (after all, you’re not picking boring books, are you??)
How to divide reading?
How to divide the reading. Decide how long you want your students to read the book. You can determine this by looking at your readers. Struggling readers will take longer to move through a text, so you will want to provide more time. I generally set three or four weeks for students to complete the reading.
Should literature circles meet for the entire class period?
Also, remember that literature circles do not have to meet for the entire class period.
Why do students use literature circle bookmarks?
Students also used these (free) Literature Circle Bookmarks to help remind them of their job while reading.
What to do after a group finishes a novel?
After a group finishes a novel, I give a final group project or post-reading activity. Then, I mix groups up for the next round of literature circles, so that students get to interact with different peers. This also allows me the chance to keep groups fluid, moving students in or out of groups if something isn’t working within a group.
What is the role of discussion director in a reading group?
The Discussion Director always starts off reading, and leads the group throughout the literature circle time. They also are responsible for finding stopping points for the Passage Predictor to do his/her job. Students read aloud one-two pages at a time (their choice) and take turns going around the circle. If a student does not have strong reading fluency, the other group members can encourage them to sound out words (This is constantly encouraged in our small reading group time, so students know the importance of supporting group members).
Can literature circles be done in primary?
I LOVE literature circles and I LOVE that they can be done in both primary and upper grades!
Is there a right way to teach literature circles?
There are many different ways to teach and run literature circles, and this is just the way that worked best in my classroom. There is no “right” way or “one” way to do this, but here is how they worked successfully for me.
Do second graders participate in literature circles?
After a few years of experimenting with different ways to introduce and teach the students the different literature circle jobs, it became evident that students in second grade are capable, and wanting, to participate in literature circles! There are many different ways to teach and run literature circles, and this is just the way ...
How do teachers set up circles?
Teachers can set up the circles so that each group meets one at a time, with the teacher sitting in, or so that all the circles meet at once, and the teacher circulates among them. A common mistake is for teachers to give students too much to do, such as a long list of questions or complicated projects.
What are the keys to success in literature?
The keys to success are simplicity and adaptability. And although it might seem that the most logical subjects in which to use literature circles are those heavy in reading, such as language arts, history, and English, they can be used in other subjects.
What are the common pitfalls of reading?
Be aware of common pitfalls. Students who read too far ahead and give away the ending, students who are unprepared, and discussions that go too far off track can derail a literature circle. McFarland talks to parents at the beginning of the school year about making sure their children don't read beyond the assignment.
Do literature circles look the same?
Teachers who want to try out literature circles need to know one thing -- no two circles look the same. "It's an approach that's so different in every classroom," says Katherine L. Schlick Noe, an education professor at Seattle University who has written extensively about literature circles. "So many people use them in different ways.".
