HIT: Literature Circles Part 3

[Jan Birney <stmark6614@YAHOO.COM>]

We use literature circles in our 4-6 grades.  The
teachers all do their
own
version, more or less, but it seems to be a great way
to get all of the
students involved in the book.  In most cases, the
peer group puts the
pressure on the student(s) not doing their job.  It
also puts more
responsiblity on the student and I think they get more
out of the book.
My
role as the Librarian has been to offer
suggestions/ideas to correspond
with
the book, and to help with the selection of titles to
be read.
*******************************************
Websites:
http://fac-staff.seattleu.edu/kschlnoe/LitCircles/index.html

Literature Circles Resource Center, School of
Education, Seattle University
Information for elementary and middle school teachers
on organizing and
managing literature circles, choosing books,
discussion, written response,
use with themed literature units, and extension
projects.
www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/mla/circle/lorirog.html
Excellent getting-started resource.  Includes PDF
templates for the standard
discussion roles.
www.studyguide.org/lit%20circle%20handout.htm
Cindy Adams has a very comprehensive webpage including
student hand-outs,
parent information letter, extensive list of writing
activities to
incorporate into literature circles, and a list of
storybook (children’s
books) that work with middle and high school students
to use as an
introduction to the lit circle process.

Refinements and adaptations:
Vary the roles, one example:
Discussion leader:    Initiates discussion and engages
ALL group members on
an equal basis.    Keeps discussion focused at all
times on issues to be
discussed and keeps group moving at a reasonable pace
through the material to
cover.  This person is also in charge of identifying
themes and selecting
passages to illustrate the themes.
Characterization recorder: One person lists all
characters discussed and
summarizes the group’s analysis of each one
with appropriate quotations
and
page numbers cited.  This person is responsible for
making sure the group
members are in agreement regarding each character.
Symbolism recorder:   One person lists all symbols
which are used in the
novel, copies quotations and explains the meaning of
each symbol.
Landscaper:   One person records the various
geographic locations,
descriptions of what occurs there and how the
characters change with their
setting.   This job also includes a study of the
author’s style as he/she
describes
various settings.         ~ Mary Filek, New Jersey,
shatzie2@aol.com
Unanimous role
Have all students assume the illustrator role.  Remind
them that they are not
to “show and tell” their picture, but
are to interpret or respond to the illustrations of
their group members.
  ~ Sandy Hayes@aol.com
Practicing the roles:
#1 Jigsaw:  For a lit circle discussion on a
whole-class novel or story, do a
jigsaw discussion.  First, group all students of the
same role.  They share
their preparation and why they made the choice they
did.  Then students form
their lit circle group.          ~ Sandy Hayes@aol.com

#2 Fishbowl:  The day before a "fishbowl” for a
piece of literature the
class
has read, one student is chosen to and to prepare
thoughtful questions.
The next day, the class puts the desks in two
concentric circles.  About 5
students are randomly called out by the teacher and
take the inner circle
seats.  The discussion leader for the day also takes
an inner circle seat.
Folks in the outside circle are "note takers" and
"further question" writers.
 The inner circle discusses literature with the help
of the discussion
leader.
Now, at this point, fishbowl can work in one of three
ways:
1)  At the end of 12-15 minutes of discussion by the
inner circle, the outer
circle can switch places with the inner circle and
(with their notes and
"further questions" continue discussing the story).
Whoever is in the outer
circle takes notes and writes questions that they
develop.  (Gets turned in
at end of class).  OR
2)  After someone in the inner circle makes 3 comments
or asks 3 questions,
an outer circle  person can tap an inner circle person
on the shoulder and
trade places with them, thus allowing for a quiet flow
of folks in and out of
the circle.  OR
3)  After 12-15 minutes of discussion, the outer
circle  is "allowed" to ask
their questions of the inner circle and to comment one
at a time on the inner
circle discussion.
While this goes on, I sit at the side of the room and
keep a rudimentary
count of who participated and who didn't.  Usually
everyone who has read
jumps in to participate at some point.
*******************************************
The one thing that we are finally getting to is the
realization that
our
purpose in using them is to encourage students to read
and talk
together
about good literature, not just do a project as we
originally started.
The
size, for starters, that we have found works best, is
4-6.  The
students
choose their books based on a book talk they have
heard and are grouped
according to choice.  All the books they initially
choose from are
about the
same in length.  We allow about 3 weeks to finish the
book-letting
students
set their own reading schedule.  We have found that
giving them plenty
of
class time to read seems to insure success for many
students.

As a Library Media Specialist, you can be of great
help in several
ways. Of
course being up to date in YOung Adult Literature is a
plus.  Also
having
access to catalogs and other sources where the
teachers can buy
multiple
copies of this current literature, as well as keeping
your eyes open
for
grants to buy those books.  We have found that the
more interesting and
current the books, the more willing and ready the
students are to
discuss.
***************************************

Again, thank you to all for your patience and
wonderful responses. I am very excited about using
this new method of encouraging my students to learn
about the pleasure they will have as they read through
life.
Jan Birney




=====
Jan Birney, Library Media Specialist
Jockey Hollow Middle School
Monroe, Connecticut 06468
stmark6614@yahoo.com

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