1. A Journey into the Realm of Literature Circles

2. Why literature circles  They allow students to talk about literature in a smaller, more conversational setting.  Students have more opportunities to share their opinions, and hear the opinions of their peers.  They help build important social skills for interactions with fellow students.

3. Literature Circle Expectations (don’t worry, there are only three of them)  Be Respectful (make eye contact, don’t interrupt people when they are speaking)  Everyone Participates  Come prepared to share your opinion

4. Hey, that’s an interesting idea. I thought….. I like how the author uses mood to enhance the theme of the poem. This is what a good literature circle should look like:

5. It should not look like this: That’s a horrible idea. Why am I stuck in your group I thought the poem had a great use of metaphor for……

6. Lit Circle Etiquette  Remember, it is ok to disagree with what someone says, but you must do so in a polite way.  If you think someone made a really good observation, make sure you let them know.  Negative comments will not be tolerated.

7. Journal Entry #1 (at least one complete sentence for each question)  What makes a lit circle successful?  Do you have a favorite poet or poem? What makes it your favorite?  What would you like to learn about poetry? (Nothing is not an acceptable answer)  Do you have any further questions about lit circles?