A Literature Circle is a quite useful tool for education, not only involving the reading but also the rest of the four language skills: writing (notes and reports), listening (aloud reading) and speaking (opinion and discussion). Through such activity students improve not only their language skills but the social as well. The communal nature of the Literature Circle is indeed effective to encourage every member of the group to participate while developing their own criteria.
Some of the Literature Circles key features according with Harvey Daniels, author of Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in the Student-Centered Classroom (1994) are:
1. Children choose their own reading materials.
2. Small temporary groups are formed, based on book choice.
3. Different groups read different books
4. Groups meet on a regular predictable schedule.
5. Students use written or drawn notes to guide both their reading and discussion.
6. Discussion topics come from the students
7. Group meetings aim to be open, natural conversations. Often the conversations digress to topics relating to the students or loosely to the books, but should eventually return to the novel.
8. The teacher serves as a facilitator, observer, listener and often a fellow reader, alongside the students. The teacher is not an instructor.
9. Students are given roles or jobs to complete for each group meeting.
10. The teacher should model how students should facilitate each role or job.
11. Evaluation is by teacher observation and student self-evaluation and should also include extension projects.
12. A spirit of playfulness and fun pervades the room.
13. New groups form around new reading choices.(1)
So, by following these recommendations and applying them in class it is possible to promote reading even for enjoyment, so the students approach to books in a natural way as a source of knowledge, ideas and amusement while practicing the rest of the language skills. It is also a great activity to create good reading habits that hopefully would remain the rest of their tiny fragile lifes, so be it…
(1 Extracted from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literature_circle)
Graphic Organizers
In order to make easy the activities within a Literature Circle there are some Graphic Organizers that help students to focus on specific information or activity. Since it is a very visual organization, it is a good alternative to relax the mind from the reading process and make clear some points in a graphic chart which is not difficult to complete and read, therefore the approach to the main information is more direct.
Source: http://freeology.com/
And for those enthusiastic readers there is a way to create some reading clubs via www.bookclubit.com which is an on line free service that allows you to create your own reading group (public or private), or join one already created (like the Shakespeareans or The Harry Potter Fan Club or even, believe it or not The Ophra’s Book Club Overview); you can also invite your reading friends, discuss and share opinions, reviews, etc., and add your favorite books to your profile.
(images taken from: www.bookclubit.com)
Mario, Oprah's book club is actually a list of books that the star has recommended. They are rather good. It is nice to know that even famous people read, which could be another motivating aspect for some people to read themselves. Great post. Ellen
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