Literature Circles 2018

Group Roles and Ground Rules

Create a Google Document for your group. Title it with the name of your book and your class. This is where you will complete all prompts for literature circles. Make sure the document is shared (with editing privileges) with all group members and Mrs. Haugevik, Mrs. Robison, and Ms. Logan.

Discuss with your group what roles are needed for each discussion. Things to consider: Who will take notes? Who will summarize what was discussed? Who will be the discussion leader? Does everyone need a role each discussion? Roles must be rotated every discussion.

What rules does the group feel necessary to make the group time as productive as possible? Your group should have around three agreed upon ground rules.

Prompt 1: Book Cover

Look over the book your group will be reading. Consider the front cover as well as the title, author, and any information on the back cover. What do you notice? Create a list of wonderings about the book based on the front and back cover.

Prompt 2: Leads

Reread the first 5-10 lines of your book. Notice the lead the author uses. What feeling or mood is created with this lead? How is this mood created (word choice, sentence/paragraph length, point of view)?

Prompt 3: First Impressions

What are your impressions so far about your book? Give reasons for your thoughts. What new wonderings do you have?

Prompt 4: Inference

Make an inference about a character in the book so far. Justify your inference with specific evidence from the text, and explain how the evidence links to the inference.

Ways to think about inferences for characters:

• What type of person is the main character? What does the character say/do to make you think that?
• How do other characters interact and react with the character?

Prompt 5: Jigsaw Activity

Prompt 6: Character Decision

What is one major decision or choice a character made that you agree/disagree with? Defend or argue against that decision using evidence from the text.

Prompt 7: Conflict

Identify a major conflict the main character struggles with. How does this conflict relate to today's middle schooler?

Prompt 8: Secrets

Identify a secret in your book. How does that secret impact the characters and/or the storyline? Think About: plot, main character's choices, other character reactions, etc.

Prompt 9: Thematic Statement

Create a thematic statement for the book so far. Justify your thematic statement with evidence from the text, and an explanation to support your evidence.