Lit Circle Schedule and Structure

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Literature Teachers Chatboard

Lit Circle Schedule and Structure

by Jessica

Aug 19, 2008

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 t...See More

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Teri 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 ...See MoreThis 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

Aug 20, 2008

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L. Swilley On 8/19/08, Jessica wrote: I > know that there have been some posts on here as to what > they [Lit Circles] are, and in reference to their efficacy....that is > not my question.

[But isn't it. See your remarks below.]

> Additionally, what do they do IN the lit circle? I know > that the idea is that they come up with...See More

Aug 21, 2008

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Teri On 8/21/08, L. Swilley wrote: > On 8/19/08, Jessica wrote: > I >> know that there have been some posts on here as to what >> they [Lit Circles] are, and in reference to their > efficacy....that is >> not my question. > > [But isn't it. See your remarks below.] > >> Additionally, what do they do IN the lit c...See MoreOn 8/21/08, L. Swilley wrote: > On 8/19/08, Jessica wrote: > I >> know that there have been some posts on here as to what >> they [Lit Circles] are, and in reference to their > efficacy....that is >> not my question. > > [But isn't it. See your remarks below.] > >> 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??*** > > [my emphasis]. > > Answer: You can't. And consider: > > Students have come to us ignorant of the knowledge we > want them to have. Lit circles presume that the students are > able to provide for themselves that knowledge. (If that is > so, why is anyone other than a clerk needed to maintain > discipline in the classroom?)

Lit circles are more for teaching students how to develop their own ideas than on formal Literature instruction. They are more appropriate for reading classes than English classes, in my opinion.

> > What is the teacher actually teaching in a class where Lit > circles are in progress? Is he/she teaching only how to > converse politely? If so, the lit circle can work (and the > teacher has become merely a disciplinary clerk for the > event), but if the *subject* of the conversation at the > tables is important, how can the teacher be assured *that* > is what is effected? How can he even be sure that common > sense is governing the discussion? Is the teacher able to be > a every table constantly? And even it that were possible, > what *exactly* is the student learning from his neighbor? > And isn't *exactly* what he is learning the very measure of > the course? >

Of course, the teacher should model any and all skills for the class as a whole before he/she begins Lit Circles. As for making sure the students are discussing/doing what they're supposed to...one alternative is to have one circle meet each day during SSR time. That way the teacher can sit in with each group--as a group member, not an "expert."

> The teacher is a mind thinking about the subject in a way > that he should want his students to think about it. He does > not want his students to think WHAT he thinks, but HOW he > thinks about it, the advantages and limits of that HOW. > > I will appreciate any discussion of the above points. > > L. Swilley > > > > > > > > 2.

Aug 22, 2008

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