Literature Circles

Mrs. SaufroySeptember 14th, 2015

Class Notes

What are Literature Circles?

• Groups of students with different roles reading the same book and meeting together to discuss what they have read.

• Students in the literature circles will be in charge of leading their own discussions about the book as well as making decisions for themselves.

Literature Circles are…

• A type of in-class book club where readers come together to read, discuss, and share a book.

• A small groups of students who each have different, yet significant job roles.

Roles of Literature Circles

1. Discussion Director

2. Summary Supervisor

3. Word Watchdog

4. Character Consultant

5. Literary Luminary

6. Artistic Authority

7. Background Brainiac

8. Connection Captain

9. Clever Critic

10.Prediction Professor

Discussion Director*

Your Job:

• To lead + direct the conversation about selected reading.

• To ask ques. that will start the convers. in group.

* Discussion Director is a job that will change the most—during every meeting.

Summary Supervisor

Your Job:

• To prepare a summary of the selected reading.

• To pick out keys points by thinking about what details, characters, or events are so import. that they might be included on quiz.

Word Watchdog

Your Job:

• To serve as a lexicographer* and create a list of words from the text that you believe are worth knowing.

• To define new vocabulary words for the group.

• The words you pick should be words that were unknown to you before and that are interesting.

*compiler of a dictionary

Character Consultant

Your Job:

• To use direct and indirect information from the book to describe a character.• Direct Information: information that is told in

the reading.• Indirect Information: information that is

obtained by drawing conclusions and making inferences based on textual evidence.

Literary Luminary

Your Job:

• To find quotes in the book that show insight and analyze the quotes.

• To identify and interpret figurative language in the reading.

Artistic Authority

Your Job:

• To draw a comic strip of at least 4-6 scenes, including dialogue of what you think is the main idea of the chapter.

• Good readers make pictures in their minds as they read, so this is your chance to share some of your own images and visions.

Background Brainiac

Your Job:

• To research important information about the book, the author, or a topic in the book to share with the group.

• You are looking for facts using sources such as websites, other books, or articles.

Connection Captain

Your Job:

• To find connections between the chapter you have read and the world outside.

• This means connecting the reading:

to your own life (text-to-self)

to school, community, similar events, or other people (text-to-world)

to other books or writings (text-to-text)

Clever Critic

Your Job:

• To formulate opinions by describing what you liked and what you didn’t like about the chapter that you read.

• Must support your critique with evidence from the text.

Prediction Professor

Your Job:

• To make predictions about what you think will happen next in the story and support your reason with textual evidence.

• You may make predictions about the characters and/or events.

Literature Circle Steps

• Step 1: Read the chapters or sections assigned.

• Step 2: Sit in groups with the people of the same role (you will become the expert).

• Step 3: Discuss reading selection and complete role worksheet.

• Step 4: Break into your assigned groups and share the information gathered.

• Step 5: Complete evaluation chart.

How-To Book TalkUses phrase such as… I predict… I have a question

about… I don’t understand… That reminds me of… I wonder why… I found evidence to

support my idea… I believe it is true

because… I believe it is false

because…

I agree with because…

I disagree with

because… To support ‘s

idea… As you said… I found evidence to

support ‘s idea…

Will you tell me more… Will you give me another

example so I can better understand.

Book Talk Resembles…

• Equal participation

• Behavior is controlled

• Everyone is prepared

• Materials are prepared beforehand

• Sitting as a group

Book Talk Sounds Like…

• Speak one person at a time

• Stay on topic

• Prove ideas using text

• Bounce ideas off each other

• Challenge yourself

• Challenge each other

Guidelines for Literature Circles

• Sit so all members can see each other (in groups).

• Only one person speaks at a time.

• Look at the speaker.

• Listen to the speaker.

• After you listen, share your thoughts.

• Ask questions if you need clarification.

• Make sure all members get a chance to talk and respond.

• Listen to you Discussion Director.

• Be respectful to all the members of your circle and their opinions.

• Always try your best!