Introduction to Literature Circles Mrs. Lehrman 6 th Grade Class Lawson Middle School

What are Literature Circles? Literature Circles are small reading groups. Each group consists of 4 or 5 students.Literature Circles are small reading groups. Each group consists of 4 or 5 students. Each group gets to choose its own book to read.Each group gets to choose its own book to read. Students read and respond to the book.Students read and respond to the book. Students meet and discuss the parts of the novel by doing various jobs.Students meet and discuss the parts of the novel by doing various jobs.

What are Literature Circles? Each group divides the book into sections and has due dates for the assignments.Each group divides the book into sections and has due dates for the assignments. Once or twice a week (usually Tuesdays and/or Fridays), groups get together to talk about what they’re reading.Once or twice a week (usually Tuesdays and/or Fridays), groups get together to talk about what they’re reading.

How Literature Circles Work Every week, each group gives itself a reading assignment.Every week, each group gives itself a reading assignment. In preparation for each week’s Literature Circles meeting, students read their assigned pages/chapters and complete one of four or five Literature Circles jobs.In preparation for each week’s Literature Circles meeting, students read their assigned pages/chapters and complete one of four or five Literature Circles jobs.

Literature Circles Jobs Discussion Director/Job checkerDiscussion Director/Job checker –Writes high-level questions to be used for group discussions –Checks for completion of assignments –Evaluates Participation/Monitors discussion for equal participation

Word FinderWord Finder –Locates and defines unknown and/or interesting vocabulary words and/or interesting vocabulary words in the book in the book ConnectorConnector –Takes events from the book and connects them to real-life experiences -Text to self, text to text, text to world Literature Circles Jobs

Passage Picker/ Literary LuminaryPassage Picker/ Literary Luminary –Picks 4 passages of text to share with the group –States the reasons for the selections –Figurative language & vivid descriptions IllustratorIllustrator –Illustrates scenes from the book

Literature Circles Meetings Students find a spot in the classroom to meet.Students find a spot in the classroom to meet. They bring their books and completed job sheets.They bring their books and completed job sheets. Students talk about what they read, and they share, one at a time, their job sheets.Students talk about what they read, and they share, one at a time, their job sheets. During meetings, it’s everyone’s job to………talk!During meetings, it’s everyone’s job to………talk!