Literature Circles

Website Material (literature circles)

• "Literature circles look different in every classroom"
• "..discussion is guieded by what the students'response to what they have read"
• "formed by book choice of students"
• "playfulness and fun"
• "open converstation about the book and its contents"

Reflections on Web Material of Lit. Circles

I think it is important to remember that there are different ways to do literature circles, and that is why they are so great! For example, maybe one person is the scribe, one person is the illustrator of a passage, and one person reads aloud. It can be beneficial no matter what kind of lit. circle it is.

Discussion being guided by what the students have read is also very important. Sometimes it can be hard to respond to something that a teacher asks about a book that you think is not interesting so having the ability to discuss things you liked and topics you did not understand with your peers end up being more productive.

The fact that the students are able to pick their own book choice alone will make them more willing to actually read the book and respond to a group discussion because it is something that THEY chose to read. I do not think that kids should be forced to read something off of a list that is requried. I do not think any student lieks reading something that does not intrigue them.

Reading is supposed to be something that students should enjoy. Literature circles are an awesome way to really make reading more fun for kids. They are able to talk openly with their peers, maybe even use a voice that they think the charcter might have in real life when they are reading aloud. Make drawings of certain passages that they like. There are countless ways to open up literature circles and make them fun and playful while still being educational for the student.

Open conversation about the book would probably not happen if it was not for literature circles. Most teachers usually hear crickets in the room when they ask a class or student to discuss what they read the night before but something about small groups tends to break down that conversation wall down.

-Katy Matthews

01/15/09