Last spring, my 8th grade students were involved in Literature Circles where they read one of six Young Adult Historical Fiction selections. The Literature Circles took about five weeks to complete. Previously, I wrote a series of articles that cover procedures, mini-lessons, and assignments and assessments. One of the major areas I worked on with my […]
Literature Circles
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Literature Circles in Middle School: Assignments & Assessment
Over the course of three articles, I have talked about doing Literature Circles with my 8th-grade students. For a list of the novels we used, check here. To read about the procedures I put in place for my students, check here. And for an explanation of how I used mini-lessons both as a full class […]
Posted inInstruction & Curriculum
Literature Circles in Middle School: Mini-Lessons
Rather than teach a full-class book at the end of the 2015-16 school year, I opted to have my 8th graders read in literature circles. They had the choice between six historical YA lit novels. Each day students met in their literature circles they had certain procedures they were expected to follow. Even though each […]
Posted inFeatured
Lit Circles in the Middle: Procedures for Middle School Literature Circles
This is my second year trying Literature Circles with my students. The first time, two years ago, I had seniors. They were extremely motivated and self-sufficient. I gave them a checklist of things I wanted them to produce, I sat in on their discussions, and they went really well. This year I am trying it […]
Posted inFeatured
Using Literature Circles with YA Historical Fiction
As English teachers, we are constantly told that “choice matters” and “choice gives students a voice.” Multiple experts (Kelly Gallagher, Penny Kittle, Donalyn Miller, Nancie Atwell, Harvey Daniels, just to name a few) have written multiple books and articles on the topic. But I think many teachers struggle with how to incorporate choice into a […]
Posted inHigh School, Instruction & Curriculum, Literacy, Middle School
Literature Circles: Empowering Students
Ideally, by the fourth quarter, I want to be unnecessary in my classroom; I hope that my students are so self-sufficient that I can partner with them instead of lead and coach. Â To me, this idea is the mark of true learning; the control baton has passed from me to them. Â I need three-quarters to […]
Posted inCurrent Events in Education, Instruction & Curriculum, Instructional Strategies, Literacy
Literature Circle Roles in New Wrappings
Educators regularly refurbish old ideas with new wrappings.  Take for example, the literature circle. The literature circle has been in education since 1982 when, according to Wikipedia, fifth grade students in Karen Smith’s class, organized themselves loosely into groups, and started to discuss individual novels.  Smith was surprised at the degree of their engagement with the books and the […]