Literature Circles
Agenda 9/21 EQ: How are literature circles set up and why should I use them? Literature Circle Overview Practice Lit Circle Session
Agenda 9/22 EQ: Finish Lit Circle Overview Practice Lit Circle with Flash Fiction
Quickwrite What roles do each of the characters on Scooby Doo play? Why are each important?
Think Aloud Thinking of the poem we recently read and the sketches we drew, how did hearing other people’s interpretation change your meaning of the text? Why do you think that’s important?
Yay Literature Circles Goals: Critically read literature from multiple “lenses” by utilizing classmates’ points of view and rotating different roles.
Lancer’s 3 Lenses of Reading Mirror Look into the text to make connections with your own life. Microscope Look into the text to find literary elements, text structure, facts. Telescope Look into the text to find connections beyond the classroom to the outside world.
You cannot be the same role more than once in one Lit Circle Cycle Instructions Every week, you will assume a different role. Discussion Director Illuminator Illustrator Connector Word Watcher Summarizer Everyone needs a unique role. You cannot double up on roles. (i.e. two discussion directors per group) You cannot be the same role more than once in one Lit Circle Cycle
Discussion Director Identify the important aspects of your assigned text Develop questions your group will want to discuss. Focus on major themes or “big ideas” in the text and your reaction to those ideas. Responsible for facilitating your group’s discussion.
Discussion Director Sample Questions “What were you thinking about as you read?” “What did the text make you think about?” “What do you think this text/passage was about?” “How might other people (of different backgrounds) think about this text? What are the most important ideas/moments in this text?
Discussion Director Example Question: “What did you think about when you were reading ‘The Refugees?’ Did you think it was about the Holocaust?” Your group should reply thoughtfully.
Illuminator Find passages your group should hear read aloud. Memorable, interesting, puzzling, funny, or important passages. Notes should include quotations and why you chose them.
Illuminator—Sample Questions “What were you thinking about as you read?” “What does this quote mean to you?” “How does this quote make you feel?” “What do you think will happen in the text—why?” “I thought this quote was important because ______. Do you agree?”
Illuminator—Example Question: “I thought the line ‘A country welcomer than this’ was really important to the poem. I think it means that the boy is moving or going somewhere. What do you think it means?”
Illustrator (Yes you get to color) Draw what you read. Cartoon like sequence. Maps or organizational trees. Use notes area to explain how your drawing relates to the text. Label the drawing.
Illustrator—Sample Questions “What do you think this picture means?” “How does this drawing relate to the story?” “What passage did this picture make you think about?”
Illustrator—Example Sketch to stretch!
Connector Connect what you are reading with what you are studying or with the world outside school. Connect to events in your own life, news events, political events. Books you’ve already read.
Connector—Sample Questions What connections can you make to your own life? What other places or people could you compare your story to? How does this section relate to the one before it?
Connector—Example “’The Refugees’ reminds me of that book Night because it takes place during the Holocaust and there are similar themes. Has anyone else read that? What does the poem make you think about?” “I read an article about refugees…this is what it said and how it relates. Do you agree?”
Word Watcher While reading the assigned section, watch out for words worth knowing. Interesting, new, important, or used in an unusual way. Locate the specific location of the word so your group can talk about it in context.
Word Watcher—Sample Questions Which words are used frequently? Which words are used unusually? What new words do you find in this section? Are there multiple meanings of this word?
Word Watcher—Example “I notice the author uses the word ‘extravagant’ a lot in the poem. When I think of extravagance, I think of a ballroom—not a war torn country. Why do you think the author chose that word?”
Summarizer Prepare a brief summary of the day’s reading. What details, characters, or events are so important that they would be included on an exam. Make a numbered list or timeline, if it works for you.
Summarizer—Sample Questions What are the most important events in the section you read? What makes them important? What changes—in plot, character, or tone—did you notice when you read? What might appear on an exam? What might be a good essay topic based on this text?
Summarizer—Example “I think it’s important to list the attributes of a refugee and how it feels. The poem was about the sense of loss and struggle for freedom. Let’s make a list of attributes of a refugee.”
Active Listening Face the speaker. Maintain eye contact. Minimize distractions. Focus solely on what the speaker is saying. Respond appropriately. Keep an open mind. Even if you disagree with the speaker, wait until they finish to politely and intelligently defend your position. Engage yourself. Ask for clarification. Restate what they said to check for comprehension.
How you will be evaluated: Keep great notes! Write questions/quotes/words on the left side. Responses on the right side. Summarize on the bottom. Participate! Active listening
How you will be evaluated… 25 20 15 10 5 Completion At least five complete note pages turned in ON TIME. Four complete note pages turned in ON TIME. Or, five complete pages turned in late. Three complete notes pages turned in ON TIME. Or, four complete pages turned in late. Or, 4-6 incomplete pages. Two complete notes pages turned in ON TIME. Or, three complete pages turned in late. Or, 3 incomplete pages. Only one complete notes page turned in, Or, two complete pages turned in late. Or, 2 incomplete pages. Language, Details, and Ideas Responds to author’s literary style, includes selections of detail, uses complex ideas. Responds to subtle language and details. Responds to abstract language, details, and ideas. Responds to concrete and strongly implied ideas or key points. Responds to vocabulary, concrete details, and directly stated ideas. Purpose , Content, and Relationship Makes insightful judgments about purpose, content, or relationships in reading. Makes well-supported judgments about purpose, content, in reading. Makes informed judgments about purpose, content, or relationships. Makes supported judgments about purpose, content, or relationships in reading. Makes judgments (not well supported) about purpose or content in reading. Understanding and Appreciation Integrates insightful understanding and appreciation, using personal experience and expanding upon it on a wider level. (Microscope, Mirror, Telescope) Integrates a thoughtful appreciation and understanding using personal experience. Touches on global insights. (Microscope, Mirror, some Telescope) Demonstrates personal understanding and appreciation using personal experiences. No global insights. (Microscope, Mirror) Explores their reading in the context of personal experience and understanding. (Mostly mirror, little microscope) Explores reading in the context of personal experience. (Mirror) Analysis of Narrative Perspective Insightfully uses Lanser’s POV scales or concepts about POV in at least four notes. Thoughtfully uses Lanser’s POV scales or concepts about POV in at least three notes. Uses Lanser’s POV scales or concepts about POV in at least two notes. And/Or, shows evidence of knowledge of POV scales, but doesn’t appropriately utilize them. Uses Lanser’s POV scales or concepts in only one note. And/Or, shows some knowledge of POV scales and concepts, but misuses them. No analysis of narrative perspective. Notes See Rubric Participation Peer Evaluation
How you will be evaluated… Five sessions of notes worth 25 points. You can drop one session if you have an excused absense. Total of 100 points for notes. Notes Due at the end of the unit. (October 20th) Peer evaluations due every Friday. Each evaluation is worth five points. Total of 20 Points for notes.
Evaluation You are responsible for keeping up with your notes until October 20th. If you lose them, you lose your grade.
Flash Fiction Practice Choose a group name. Choose a practice lit circle role. Read “Pendergast’s Daughter” Fill your lit circle role—come up with questions, draw a picture, find quotes, etc.
Flash Fiction Practice On a piece of chart paper, write the similarities and differences you had with other group’s role. Similarities Differences
Flash Fiction Practice Now, read your assigned flash fiction as a group, choose a different role, and hold a lit circle meeting. Take notes. Evaluate your peers with the evaluation sheet.