{"id":3386,"date":"2021-01-10T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-10T16:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/?p=3386"},"modified":"2023-09-30T12:17:06","modified_gmt":"2023-09-30T16:17:06","slug":"literature-circles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/itslitteaching.com\/literature-circles\/","title":{"rendered":"Literature Circles: What You Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lately, everywhere I turn teachers are talking about literature circles–and for good reason! If you’re looking for a way to create rigor in your classroom and<\/em> to cultivate authentic, real-life skills in your students, then literature circles may just be the activity your curriculum needs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog post, I’ll cover everything you need to know about literature or lit circles. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. I only recommend products that I personally use and love, or think my readers will find useful.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pinterest pin for blog post: \"Literature Circles: What You Need to Know\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is a Literature Circle?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Simply, in a literature circle, students discuss a piece of literature together. Usually, this is done in small groups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally in English classes, the whole class reads one literary work together. The students may complete several assignments around the text before completing a final essay or project as a capstone to the unit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a literature circles unit, however, there may be several groups of students with each group reading a different novel. These groups of students study, read, and work together to understand their text. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The level of structure in a literature circle will vary, but they usually include some structured and some unstructured discussions amongst students. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are Literature Circles Effective?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the time of writing, literature circles are considered to be one of the best practices for teaching secondary English and are gaining in popularity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Literature circles combine some of the most effective teaching strategies we know of for language development: independent reading<\/a>, collaborative discussion, and student-centered learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lit Circles Encourage Choice<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A benefit of literature circles is that they encourage student choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We know that when students feel that they have a say, they are more engaged. Allowing students to choose their text allows them to feel more empowered and involved in their own learning.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Literature circles also allow students some time for unstructured conversation around literature. Answering worksheet questions will get wearisome for even the best of students, but highly engaging conversations about interesting texts never get old. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lit Circles Can Be More Authentic Ways of Interacting with Texts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One of the great features of literature circles is that they mirror the way readers actually<\/em> interact with the texts that they read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Literature circles invite students to discuss, question, and debate literature the same way that adults in a book club might. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While reading worksheets<\/a> might be an effective way of making sure students read, they don’t mirror real life.<\/strong> When have you ever put down a great book in your adult life before immediately starting a book report on it? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The traditional assignments teachers often give students work for accountability, but they rarely instill the kind of routines and habits that lifelong readers use to stay <\/em>lifelong readers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lit circles, however, can do this. They encourage authentic engagement with a text. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Want to learn more about the pedagogy behind literature circles? Here are some of the best professional development books on this topic:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n