Literature circles give students the chance to think critically and deeply about texts being read in class. These texts can be fiction or nonfiction. Literature circles are best done in small groups. The groups are made based on the book or type of book the student's chose. For example, students who all chose the same nonfiction book on lions would be in one literature circle.
The book used in the literature circles should be self-selected by the students. It is typically a topic they show great interest in. This ensures that the students exert ownership of their work and are engaged and excited about participating in their literature circle.
Literature circles should be used as part of a balanced and comprehensive reading and writing framework because it utilizes many reading and writing skills the students have learned. It gives them a chance to exercise their independence, in that, they choose their book or topic, as well as where they want their discussion to lead. They get to work independently as well as together within their groups, sharing and learning together but still as individuals.Literature circles also engage students in meaningful and purposeful activities that ultimately lead them to knowledge that they independently and jointly create.
Literature circles are:
- Student centered
- Reader response centered
- Part of balanced and comprehensive writing & reading framework
- Formed by similar book and topic interest
- Call for student independence, ownership, & responsibility
- Flexible in nature
Literature circles begin by first having students create groups by similar topics or books. They come together because they have similar likes, and therefore, work together on something they all enjoy or are interested in. Each student is assigned a role in their literature group. Though teachers can create and adapt roles for their students. Some roles to consider are: summarizer, vocabulary enricher, travel chaser, connector, illustrator, and literature luminary.
Students read their text together as a group or independently. They then come together to discuss the text as readers and writers. They draw on their experiences of writing their own literature as well as being a active reader and knowing conventions and features of print in fiction and nonfiction. They then work on their roles individually. Once completed, the students share their activities as a group.
Check out the links below to help you better understand and implement literature circles:
- Literature Circles: From Theory to Practice
- Literature Circles: Implementation Over Time
- Literature Circles: Instructional Plan & Lesson
- Literature Circles: Role Handouts
- Literature Circles: Role Cards
- Literature Circles: Task Completion Tracker
