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Arkansas Department of
Education
Literature Circles
Mid-Level and High School
Essential Questions
How does reading research support literature discussion groups?How does the ELA Framework address literature discussion?How can teachers create a climate that promotes literary discussion?How can teachers start, sustain and assess literature circles in the classroom?
Arkansas Department of
Education
Agenda
Building the Case for Literature Circles Creating the ClimateStarting and Sustaining Literature Circles
SchedulingChoosing Text and Forming GroupsStructuring the TimeSupporting Through MinilessonsExtending Through Projects
Assessing Student Progress
Arkansas Department of
Education
Building the Case for Literature Circles
DefinitionStandardsResearchKey Ingredients
Arkansas Department of
Education
What are Literature Circles?
“Literature circles are small, peer-led discussion groups whose members have chosen to read the same story, poem, article or book.”
- Daniels, 2002
Arkansas Department of
Education
Why Literature Circles?
Meets NCTE and IRA standards for best practice :activeauthenticexperientialconstructivistcollaborative
Arkansas Department of
Education
Why Literature Circles?
English Language Arts Framework:
Standard 1: SpeakingStandard 2: ListeningStandard 9: Reading ComprehensionStandard 10: Variety of Text
Arkansas Department of
Education
But Does it Work?
“A considerable body of evidence strongly indicates that discussion fosters improved understanding…”
- Richard Allington, 2000
Arkansas Department of
Education
Key Features of Literature Circles
1. Student choice of text
2. Small, temporary groups
3. Different books4. Predictable
schedule5. Discussion notes6. Student-driven
discussion
7. Natural conversations8. Teacher as facilitator9. Evaluation by teacher
observation and student self-assessment
10. Playfulness and fun11. New groups form
around new reading choices
Arkansas Department of
Education
Creating the Climate
Building CommunitySocial SkillsComprehension StrategiesLiterary Knowledge
Arkansas Department of
Education
Building Community
Cultivating a nourishing climate for literature circles involves attention to the following: collaboration and respect independence and responsibility response to literature
- Katherine Schlick Noe and Nancy Johnson Getting Started with Literature Circles,
1999
Arkansas Department of
Education
Social Skills
“The most effective way to identify what works and what doesn’t in discussions is to involve your students and let them tell you.”
- Noe and Johnson, 1999
Arkansas Department of
Education
Comprehension Strategies
In literature circles, meaning is constructed in a social context. Readers engage in a wide range of ways to construct meaning. They share their responses and in the process refine and expand them.
- Fountas and Pinnell, 2001
Arkansas Department of
Education
Literary Knowledge
Literary ElementsLiterary DevicesGenre CharacteristicsText Structures
Arkansas Department of
Education
Starting and Sustaining Literature Circles
SchedulingChoosing Text and Forming GroupsStructuring the TimeSupporting Through MinilessonsExtending Through Projects
Arkansas Department of
Education
“While you can jump-start some rough draft literature circles, the longer-term process of fine-tuning and problem solving will take time, patience, creativity and stick-to-itiveness.”
- Daniels, 2002
Arkansas Department of
Education
Scheduling
How much time per week?What does a schedule look like?How long should it take to finish a cycle?How many cycles per year?
Arkansas Department of
Education
Structuring the Class Time
Minilesson - 5 to 10 minutesGroup Meetings - 20 to 30 minutes(May include reading and writing time)Sharing/Debriefing - 5 to 10 minutes
Arkansas Department of
Education
Establishing Routines/Norms
“In order for literature circles to be valuable and productive, students must understand that the routines are not simply your rules, but agreements that enable them to work together.”
- Fountas and Pinnell, 2001
Level of Teacher Support for Literature Circles
High Support
Low Support
Facilitator Participant Occasional Guide Rotating Observer
Arkansas Department of
Education
A Basic Sequence for Literature Circles
Choose TextForm Group
Schedule MeetingsRead, Think and Note
Discuss TextRespond Through Project
(optional)
Arkansas Department of
Education
Choosing Text and Forming Groups
Teacher collects multicopies of books, articles, short stories and poems.Teacher advertises each selection.Students rank their choices.Teacher forms groups.
Arkansas Department of
Education
Book Pass
Arkansas Department of
Education
Capturing Responses
Options include…Role sheets - rarely, if at allSticky notesText Coding Golden LinesBookmarksResponse Journal
Arkansas Department of
Education
Minilesson
Text Coding
Arkansas Department of
Education
Minilesson
Finding Golden Lines
Arkansas Department of
Education
Basic Sequence
Choose reading materialSchedule meetingsRead, think and noteDiscuss the selectionDebrief the process
Arkansas Department of
Education
Supporting Through Minilessons
Minilessons involve three major, interrelated topics: Social Skills Comprehension Strategies Literary Knowledge
Arkansas Department of
Education
Minilesson
Written Conversation
Arkansas Department of
Education
Extending Through Projects
“A good extension project will keep the thinking and responding going after the students finish the book.”
Katherine Schlick Noe www.litcircles.org
Arkansas Department of
Education
Assessing Student Progress
Arkansas Department of
Education
Assessing Students’ Progress
Teachers need a rich repertoire of valid assessment strategies:Observation Conferences Performance
Portfolio
Arkansas Department of
Education
Students as Assessors
Students can reflect on the quality of their participation in a variety of ways:
Student Observer
Video Eye Lit Circles Scoring Guide Exit Slip
Arkansas Department of
Education
Remember…
“Doing the activity is the main thing. Do not let the record- keeping become an end in itself.”
- Daniels, 2002
Essential Questions
How does reading research support literature discussion groups?How does the ELA Framework address literature discussion?How can teachers create a climate that promotes literary discussion?How can teachers start, sustain and assess literature circles in the classroom?
Arkansas Department of
Education
Reflection
3 things I’ve learned today…
2 things I’m unsure of…
1 thing I can do immediately…
