Purpose, Roles and Procedures Literature Circles Purpose, Roles and Procedures

What are Literature Circles? Literature circles are small groups of students, each with assigned roles, aimed at discovering important information, ideas or concepts about a piece of literature. As opposed to learning the information through teacher led discussions and the completion of guided questions.

How do Literature Circles work? Each member must read the assigned literature before meeting as a group. Each group member will be assigned a “role” before meeting as a group. On group meeting days, each member will present/discuss their information with the rest of the group. As the literature changes (chapters, new stories), members switch roles.

Roles Each group will have 6 members, each assigned to one of the following roles: Discussion Director Highlighter Illustrator Real World Connector Summarizer Investigator

1. Discussion Director 1. Go through the order of each role to maintain discussion and focus. 2. Develop a list of questions that your group will discuss about the assigned section or story. 3. Write the questions and/or topics on your assignment sheet.

Discussion Order 1. Investigator presents information 2. Summarizer presents information 3. Director discusses questions 4. Illustrator presents information 5. Highlighter presents information 6. Real World Connector presents 7. Discuss main points to be revealed during presentation

2. Highlighter Locate important passages of the text that you will read out loud. Pick at least 5. Explain to your group why you chose those passages, what meaning they have on the text as a whole, and any literary devices that might be used in the passage. Discuss meaning or feeling that text creates.

3. Illustrator Draw some kind of visual image relating to the text. Label the drawing/items with words that help clarify the image for your group. Explain to your group what image you created, why, and what it means. Allow others to share their feelings about your image.

4. Real World Connector Find real world connections between the story you are reading and the world. Connect reading to your own life, things happening at school or in the community, and national and world events. You may also make connections to other stories or writers.

5. Summarizer Prepare a brief summary of today’s reading. Convey the gist, key points, main literary devices used. 2-4 paragraphs

6. Investigator Dig up background information on the story, including: Author information time period portrayed in story or when written Culture Historical context Vocabulary Music, art or foods that reflect the story or time Must be in own words (not printed pages from internet)

Presentation Every group through this process will be required to give a presentation of the groups findings through one of these readings. You will not present every circle discussion. A schedule of presentations will be given to you. As you present your information, the teacher will ask questions about your discoveries. The audience is also allowed to ask you questions.