For Teachers

Here is information for teachers on running a literature circle programme and how to use the LITCIRCON blog.

What are Literature Circles?

Literature Circles,  also know as Literacy Circles and similar to Reciprocal Reading, are a process for allowing students to collaboratively read and comprehend texts. They can take a variety of forms in different learning spaces, but share these common elements:

• Students read a text independently
• Students have a role to complete prior to the literature circle
• Students work in a group to share their thinking related to their role

Literature Circles are an effective way for students to develop their comprehension of a text. They can be employed in a range of curriculum areas including English, Science, Social Sciences, Mathematics and Health.

Here is a brief description from Effective Literacy Practice Years 5 - 8:

Many teachers use literature circles as a way of encouraging their students to think and talk about a wide range of literary texts. A literature circle is like a book club for students. Small groups of students read the same text independently and share their interpretations and personal responses with others in the group. The students generate the discussion. Having the students mark parts of the text helps to focus their discussion of a text, for example, where they:

- found a passage particularly impressive, interesting, or confusing;

- want to ask the group questions about the plot, characters, or information;

- want to clarify their thoughts about the theme or meaning of the text;

- found the language or writing style impressive or memorable;

- can relate an event or episode in the text to personal experience;

- can relate the text to other texts on the same topic or theme or by the same author.

Literature circles enable students to extend their comprehension and critical analysis skills as they explore, in-depth, texts by a particular author or on a specific theme.