Literature Circles

Next week, we will start Literature Circles. Literature Circles are small, peer-led reading discussion groups. The goal of Literature Circles is to promote high-level thinking skills, and lifelong reading habits. Literature Circle groups will consist of 4-5 students who are interested in reading the same book. I will let you know which books we choose as soon as we've decided.

We will be meeting in our Literature Circle groups twice a week, Tuesdays and Fridays. Tuesdays, students will discuss their reading through letters that they write to each other. Friday's meeting will be a verbal discussion of what they have read so far. I have found that writing one day and discussion on the other allow different kinds of learners the opportunity to participate. In our first Literature Circle meeting each group will decide on their reading assignments. They will be asked to consider the schedules of their groups mates, realistic amounts of pages, and Literature Circle meeting days, all while trying to finish the book as close to November 21 as they can. These assignments will be recorded in your child’s student planners if you want to take a look. During Literature Circles (around 4 weeks) reading homework will be different. Here are the differences:
1. Instead of writing a summary, they will write a letter (due Tuesday) to their group members and prepare for Friday’s discussion. Preparation for Friday’s discussion should include at least five ideas for discussion written down in their reading composition book. Here is a copy of the letter I wrote the children about their Literature Circle responsibilities Literature Circle Letter.
2. 20-30 minutes of reading each night can be with their Literature Circle book and recorded on their reading at home recording sheet.