Using Literature Circles

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Using Literature Circles
By Heather

Hi! I've been using literature circles in my class for 3 years now in 6th grade and this is what I suggest. I would not start off using literature circles. First, I would start off with some short stories to see where their
reading ability is at. Next, I would read a whole-class book. Then I would incorporate literature circles. I like to model the whole procedure using a short story. Every student reads the short story silently. Then, each day (I have only 40 minutes each class) I introduce one role. The class then practices the role and I have them get in groups to discuss. I do this with each role sheet.

I use 4-5 role sheets: a discussion director (one who asks critical thinking questions),a word wizard (looks up and teaches vocab words), a travel tracer (who describes the setting), an illustrator and a literary luminary (one who finds interesting paragraphs or sections to discuss) It takes about 1 1/2 weeks for them to become "experts" in each role. Hope this helps