Literature Circles

Everything you need to know about your Literature Circle project.

1. Literature circles "are small, temporary discussion groups who have chosen to read the same story, poem, article, or book...[E]ach member prepares to take specific responsibilities in the upcoming discussion, and everyone comes to the group with the notes needed to help perform that job" (Harvey Daniels, 13).

You'll choose one of the books below (after I book-talk them), and, once in your groups, you'll assign roles to each person. Here is the list:

*Discussion Director: this student is responsible for creating some good

discussion questions to create conversation about the piece.

These may be questions about characters, plots, themes, etc. It

is also the D.D.'s job to keep group members on task.

*Literary Luminary: this student will highlight memorable, interesting, or

valuable quotes and passages from the reading and bring the

members back to these specific moments.

*Connector: the connector's job is to relate this text to the real world, either

through pop culture, history, or other literature. Whatever the student

feels is relevant and important for the group to see.

*Artful Artist: this role provides creative freedom for the student, who must

present the novel in a graphic way. (S)he may create a poster, movie,

dolls, sculptures...the possibilities are endless.

*Character Captain: here, the focus is (obviously) characters. The student

will choose one character to follow throughout the novel. (S)he will

select quotes or scenes that depict the journey the character goes

through during the novel.

*Word Wizard: this is good for a study of vocabulary. The Word Wizard will

go through the text and circle unfamiliar words (these may be difficult

vocabulary words or words specific to the novel). Then (s)he will

define these words and explain a few (5-10) to the group.

*Researcher: this student will research history about the book, the author, the

time period, etc. in order to further illuminate the groups understanding

of the novel.

2. The book choices for Spring are:

My Forbidden Face The Chocolate War Fallen Angels Freedom Writers' Diary

A Lesson Before Dying Ellen Foster The Bean Trees

3. After reading and notetaking and brainstorming, your group will create a wiki on Wikispaces. You'll use your discussion notes to complete the parts of the wiki, then present to the class.

Book Review check

Anchor charts to help identify themes:

(Images from my Pinterest site: Anchor charts)