Throughout the year during fourth and fifth grade language arts enrichment, we are using a literature circle format for talking about the great novels we are reading. To be part of a literature circle, students have an common assignment for reading, a job to do, and a literature notebook to record their work. Below are the job descriptions that students are provided: Director - leads the group
Summarizer - recaps the reading Word Wizard - teaches the group the meaning of new words Illustrator - creates a graphic representation of an important event/person The students meet in their literature circle once or twice a week to discuss. The director is fully in charge of the group. I sit in on lit circles but have to follow the same rules as everyone else (that means asking for the talking stick in order to share my ideas.) I do assign the vocabulary words, but the word wizard teaches the group the meanings/synonyms/visuals to help them understand. The students ask the questions and answer the questions. It is a book discussion led by students, for students. While there are other times of the week where I am in charge and I am the one posing the questions and directing the conversations or activities related to their reading instruction, this is the time during the week where I am giving the students leadership opportunities and requiring them to take full responsibility for analyzing text. Building this independence and creating a space for discourse is an important piece of the puzzle for building critical readers.
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May 2018
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