On 3/12/09, L. Swilley wrote:
> On 3/11/09, ELA teacher grades 6,7,8 wrote:
>> I am experimenting with moving from whole group reading to
>> literature circles. Does anyone have any information or
>> tips for me that they have found useful while trying
>> literature circles? Any good books or cites? Thanks in
>> advance for your help!
>
> ===========================================
>
> While you are helping one circle, how do you know what
> the others are doing?

I, personally, hate the role sheets; I find it limits what the
students think about the book (if the student is the word wizard,
he just looks for words, etc.) What works for me is to give the
students a pre-reading prompt, such as, to describe and analyze
the relationships between the characters. Then, when they meet
in circles, I give them a task, like to create a character
diagram illustrating those relationships.

As for books, I've had success in the middle school levels with
Harry Potter books, Cirque Du Freak, StarGirl, Hope was Here,
Witch Child, really anything worth them reading in the first
place, especially anything open to different interpretations.

In response to L. Swilley's question, the most success I've had
involved a rotation system. Every day, the class had silent
reading time. I had 5 literature circles and had each one meet
on a different day of the week during SSR time. That way I could
be a part (but never the leader) of every circle and the other
students in the class were silently reading their books and/or
taking notes based on their pre-reading prompt.

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