1. The Giver and Gathering Blue Unit
Literature Circles
The Giver and Gathering Blue Unit

2. What are literature circles?
As we read Lois Lowry’s novels Gathering Blue and The Giver, you will be meeting with a small group of your classmates to discuss the novel (s) you are reading.
Each individual group member will have a certain “role” in which he or she will have to fulfill a particular assignment for the reading each week. You will meet on Mondays to decide on who will fill each role.
On Fridays, your group will meet to share your role and discuss the reading from the week. You will also discuss the “big questions” for the week.
At the end of the unit, your group will complete a project together. More info to come! 

3. Lit Circle Roles Discussion Director Connector Illustrator
Passage Picker

4. Discussion Director
Your job is to create at least three questions to discuss with your group members after you have finished reading.
These questions should be about the “big ideas” from the book.
Usually, the best discussion questions come from your own thoughts, feelings, and concerns as you read.
Also, keep up with what roles your group members have by writing them down.

5. Connector
Your job is to tell the class what connections you make between this week’s reading and our real lives.
You may connect the reading to your own life, to what happens in your school, or in your community.
You may also relate it to movies, the news, television shows, or other books.
There are no right or wrong answers here—whatever the reading connects you with is worth sharing.

6. Illustrator
Your job is to draw some kind of picture related to the reading. It can be a sketch, cartoon, diagram, graph, or even a stick-figure scene.
The picture can be about something that is specifically talked about in the reading, or something that the reading reminded you of, or a picture that conveys any idea or feeling you got from the reading.
Label your drawing to help explain it to your group.
Color helps your group members see your illustration.
Allow your group members to comment on and discuss your illustration.
Be sure to post your drawing in the classroom after you have shown it to your group.

7. Passage Picker
Your job is to choose at least two passages of the reading that you feel are important enough for your group to hear again.
The idea is to help people remember some interesting, powerful, funny, puzzling, or important parts of the book.
You will provide the page number of each passage and the first two words so your group members will be able to find the passage. (I will give you a chart.)
Also, write down the reason for why you chose this passage to share with your group members.
You can read passages aloud yourself, ask someone else to read them, or have people read them silently and then discuss.

8. What makes a good discussion?
Empathetic Listening
Responding to Others
Give your complete attention to the speaker, showing the people in your group that you value their thoughts.
Expand on your group members’ ideas by sharing your own thoughts and feelings about what they contribute to the conversations.

9. Clarifying: Probe to understand each other’s ideas.
Tell me more about….
What do you mean….?
What do you think….?
I think….because….
I wonder….
I was surprised….
This part reminds me of…
I noticed….
I didn’t understand….
I wish….
Clarifying: Probe to understand each other’s ideas.
Sharing Ideas and Justifying Opinions: Share parts of the book that are important to you and explain why they are important. Justify your opinions.

10. Preparing for Discussion…
Before you meet with you literature circle, choose a part of the book that….
Makes you wonder
Makes you laugh
Makes you sad or upset
You don’t understand
Was your favorite part
Reminds you of another book
Reminds you of something that has happened in life

11. Discussion Elements
Looks Like:
Sounds Like:
Focused on discussion
Active participation
Piggybacking off of others ideas
Disagreeing constructively
Taking turns to let others speak
Supporting opinions with evidence

12. Discussion Elements
Looks Like:
Sounds Like:
Focused on discussion
Eyes on speaker
Hands empty
Sit up (No Sleeping!)
Mind is focused
Speaker’s voice only
Paying attention
Voices low
One voice at a time
Active participation
Hands to yourself
Head nodding
Talking one at a time
Appropriate responses
Nice comments
POSITIVE attitudes
Piggybacking off of others ideas
Listening
Taking Notes
Polite responses
Waiting for other people to finish
Disagreeing constructively
Looking at the speaker
Nice face, nice looks
POLITE responses
Let people finish talking
Quiet voices
Taking turns to let others speak
One person speaking
Attention to speaker
One voice
Supporting opinions with evidence
Use your book and notes
Piggyback off of others
Help others find evidence

13. Ms. Everett’s Rules for Lit Circles
All group members must…
read the whole novel (s) you are assigned
come to lit circles prepared (with book, reading charts, and lit circle role work)
participate in discussions
stay on task!!
be respectful of other group members (by paying attention, listening, and responding)