Literature Circles

Literature Circles Part 1

Checklist for SSR:

1. Book
2. Journal, (sticky notes optional)
3. Pencil

During the Reading:

1. Write the name of the book and date in the top margin
2. Jot down notes while you read
3. Make sure you write the page number in the margin to the left of each new note

After Reading:

1. When you finish the reading, take a minute to go back through your journal. 
2. On the top margin, label only the page numbers you read during that particular reading
3. Go through the notes and translate your notes for discussion by using the code on the back
4. On a fresh sheet of paper, write a 4-5 sentence summary of what you read
5. Skip a line, and write a 4-5 sentence reaction to your reading.  This is the place to write your opinions and make your notes come to life.

Discussion:

1. Be sure to have read the pages your group agreed upon
2. Be sure to have all your materials
3. Be ready to discuss the reading
4. Be prepared to share what you have in your journal
5. Take notes on ideas that other students have
6. Work together to make sense of your reading
1. This is the time to ask each other questions
2. Everyone should actively participate
3. If one person is looking at a passage, all should be looking at a passage 

Post-Discussion:

1.  On a fresh piece of paper in your journal, write the date on the top margin.  Take a minute to reflect on the overall Lit. Circle experience for that day.  What went well?  What could go better?  How did your group do overall?  How did you do overall?  What new information/ideas did you gain from discussing the book?  Do you have any comments or predictions? 

Q:       Question

WW:    Word Wizard

TS:     Self to Text Connection

TT:     Text to Text Connection

TW:     World to Text Connection

Conversation Starters

LL:      Lit. Luminary/good passage to read

Summ:             Helps me to summarize story

Picture Makers

SS:     Scene Setter/ setting description

Ill:       Illustrator/I can draw this later

Making it Real

R:        Researcher/I’d like to learn more about this

Projects:  You can literally do anything you want for a project.  You can work individually or as a group, write a paper, make a soundtrack, paint a picture, make a collage, make a map, talk about the author, etc.  A good place to start from might be those places you marked with an “R.”  If you were interested in researching during the book, maybe this is a good time to revisit that information and present it in an appropriate way.  Most important, have fun and be prepared to show evidence that you know your topic.  You might be asked to defend your information through a debate or online chat.  Remember, this is not for a grade, but to provide insight on what you enjoyed about the book and spark class discussion.