USING BLOGS WITH

LITERATURE CIRCLES

By: Adris Swift

WHAT ARE LITERATURE CIRCLES?

Small groups of students gather together to discuss a piece of literature in depth.

The discussion is guided by students' response to what they have read. They will talk about events and characters in the book, or personal experiences related to the story.

WHAT ARE LITERATURE CIRCLES? Literature circles provide a way for students

to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books.

Finally, literature circles guide students to deeper understanding of what they read through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response.

WHAT ARE LITERATURE CIRCLES? Discussion Director creates questions to increase comprehension asks who, what, why, when, where, how. Vocabulary Enricher

clarifies word meanings and pronunciations uses research resources Literary Luminary

guides oral reading for a purpose examines figurative language, parts of speech, and vivid descriptions Connector makes text-to-text or text-to-self relationship

Discussion Director

Vocabulary Enricher

Vocabulary Enricher

Connector

This next clip will summarize

literature circles.

HOW CAN YOU USE BLOGS WITH LITERATURE CIRCLES

WAITHOLD IT

WHAT AREBLOGS!

HOW DO WE GET STARTED

Small groups will be organized by the teacher.

Teacher will reinforce blogging by posting different comments to each group.

The groups will be arranged by reading levels. Students reading at, or below, grade level will respond to a blog that requires them to identify key story elements (main characters, setting, problem and solution).

Students reading above grade level will respond to a blog that requires them to identify the key story elements, but also to sequence the events leading to the solution of the problem. They will also be required to respond to how the setting changes from the beginning of the story to the resolution of the problem.

WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS?

     How would you compare the main character to . . .?  Can you list  three important details?  What questions would you ask in an interview with _______________?  What would happen if this story had a different ending?   Why/How does the author use relationships in the story?   What does the author believe about _____________?   What motive is there for _________?

     What would you recommend the character to do?  Can you propose an alternative to _________?    

In Conclusion Students need encouragement to write. 

Using EduBlogs as the vehicle for student journal writing will teach students how to use technology to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers and other audiences. 

This is an effective way for a class to learn how to transform a traditional genre to an online environment.

 Best of all, EduBlogs create a dynamic learning environment that encourages active engagement by both teacher and student.  Students and teachers can become active participants on the Internet.

  http://aswift.edublogs.org/

REFERENCES Social Constructivism: Literature

Circles Created by Elizabeth Buckhold Lee and Sachi LeFeverwww.commoncraft.com/show

Image Contributionwww.fantasticfiction.co.uk/.../lottery.htmwww.angelshare.co.ukwww.government-skills.gov.uk/.../index.asp