Literature Circles

Literature Circles

Literature circles are small, temporary discussion groups of students who have chosen to read the same work of literature. This can be a story, poem, article or book. Each member agrees to take specific responsibilities during discussion sessions. The circles meet regularly, and the discussion roles change at each meeting. When the circle finishes reading their texts, the members decide on a way to showcase their literary work for the rest of the class.

Easy Reference Guide to Literature Circles

 

	Symbol:	Description:	Questions To Consider:	Higher Order Thinking Tasks:
Discussion Director		Your role demands that you identify the important aspects of your assigned text, and develop questions your group will want to discuss.	·  What were you thinking about as you read? ·  What one question would you ask the writer if you got the chance? Why?	·    Open/Closed/Fat/ Skinny Questions ·    6 Thinking Hats ·    PMI ·    SCAMPER
Clarifier/ Connector		Your job is to clarify and connect what you are reading with that you are studying or with the world outside of school.	·  What connections can you make to your own life? ·  What is the most interesting or important connection that comes to mind?	·    Venn Diagram ·    Bubble map
Word watcher		While reading the assigned section, you w;atch out for words worth knowing.  These words might be interesting, new, important, or used in unusual ways.	·  Which words are used frequently? ·  Which words are used in unusual ways? ·  What words seem to have special meaning to the characters or author?	·  Alphabet Key ·    Cross-Classification Chart ·  Thesaurus ·  Crossword
Illuminator		You find passages your group would like to/should hear and read aloud.  These passages should be memorable, interesting, puzzling, funny or important.	·  What are the most important ideas/moments in this text/section? ·  What was the most important change in this section? How and why did it happen?	·    5W’s ·    Act out the passage ·    If the answer is… ·    True or False ·    Celebrity Heads ·    Rap/Dance/Mine
Illustrator/ Creator		Your role is to draw what you read. Write notes to explain how your drawing relates to the text.  Label your drawings so we know who the characters are.	·  Ask members of your group, “What do you think this picture means?” ·  How does this drawing relate to the story?	·  Mind Map ·  Charades ·  Storyboard
Summariser		Prepare a brief summary of the day’s reading.  Ask yourself, what details, characters, or events are so important that they would be included on a test?	·  What are the most important events in the section you read? ·  What effect do these events have on the plot or the other characters?	·  Lotus Diagram ·  Back cover and blurb ·  Visual Organiser ·    Mind map