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Re: Lit Circle Schedule and Structure
Posted by Teri on 8/20/08
This is what I did when I used lit. circles in 7th grade.
First, instead of giving the students one free read period a
week, I would give them 20-30 minutes a day (assuming that's
about half of your period.) Then, I usually gave the students
a focus/task as they read. For example, "For your next lit.
circle meeting, be prepared to discuss the character traits
of your main character." Then, when they met, they would
discuss the character and perhaps create a character trait
map, character sociogram, or open mind portrait. I ended
each meeting day with a whole-class share. That way the
students learned a bit about each book and a lot about the
focus of the day. Also, I never had lit. circles meet more
than twice a week. On the other days, they would read and
we'd have mini-lessons on structures/procedures of successful
lit. circles as needed. Mini-lessons could also include
modeling upcoming focuses/tasks with a picture book. (Yes,
middle school kids like being read to and picture books are
great for modeling since they are generally short and easy to
understand.)Or, the class would work on grammar or writing.
I found giving the students a focus/task kept the students
focused on their reading (instead of talking about so and so
or what they did over the weekend).
Hope this helps.
On 8/19/08, Jessica wrote:
> This is long and rambling but bear with me please…
>
> I start my first job teaching 7th grade Literature in
> September in a school that is heavy into Lit Circles. I
> know that there have been some posts on here as to what
> they are, and in reference to their efficacy....that is
> not my question.
>
> I was a 6th grade Maternity LR last year in a school that
> loosely used lit circles, where all students read the same
> book but just complete discussion questions in groups. In
> my new school however (as per usual Lit Circle struct.)
> the students are given an option of 5 books centered
> around one theme.
>
> My questions are this:
> I will be alternating through the year whole class novels
> and lit circles (I do not intend to have the students do
> both at the same time- at least in the beginning). So at
> some point they will be doing lit circles 4 days a week
> (leaving one day for their free read period). What do they
> do for 4 days in a lit circle??? How can I set a daily
> schedule so they know what to do each day?
>
> Additionally, what do they do IN the lit circle? I know
> that the idea is that they come up with questions and
> discuss, but how can you be sure they are getting
> everything they should out of it? And how can you be sure
> that they are staying on topic and not wasting time??
>
> These kids have been doing Lit Circles since 3rd grade so
> they know what they are doing and I don’t want to let them
> down appearing that I do not. I have ordered two books
> (the ones suggested in the other links on Lit Circles) and
> am anxious to read them, but in the meantime....HELP
Posts on this thread, including this one
- Lit Circle Schedule and Structure, 8/19/08, by Jessica .
- Re: Lit Circle Schedule and Structure, 8/20/08, by Teri.
- Re: For Jessica, 8/21/08, by L. Swilley .
- Re: For Jessica, 8/22/08, by Teri.
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