Literature Circles, Grand Conversations, Book Clubs

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Literature Circles, Grand Conversations, Book
Clubs

• These are all terms for literary discussions in
  which students play a directing role
• These are structured discussion groups
• These grew out of 2 understandings from
  educational theory 1st. language use is
  fundamental to thinking- begins in social
  interactions and 2nd use authentic text

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Literature Circles, Grand Conversations, Book
Clubs

• Literature provides a vehicle for exploring
  culture and society
• School-based literacy education should prepare
  students to live and work in a diverse society
• Narrative plays a central role in understanding
  and sharing our understandings with others.

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How do they work?

• Students all read the same text (in groups)
• The text genre can vary (short story, novel,
  textbooks, brochures, internet documents)
• Texts which evoke more than one interpretation
  or connection are usually more successful
• Everyone is free to offer comments and questions

4
How do they work?

• The structure comes from the role group members
  perform
• group members are encouraged to address
  comments/questions to each other

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Role of the teacher

• The teacher is a model. The teacher speaks as one
  seeking insights.
• The teacher helps students to participates in
  conversations
• The teacher helps move the conversation forward
• The teacher supports literary learning by
  supplying students with concepts and terms

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Possible Students Roles in Book Club or Grand
Conversations or Literacy Circles

• Quotation-finder
• Investigator
• Travel-tracer
• Connector
• Question-asker

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Possible Students Roles in Book Club or Grand
Conversations or Literacy Circles

• Word finder
• Checker
• Character Interpreter
• Illustrator
• Recorder
• Reporter

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Suggestions for the roles

• Teach each role to the whole class
• Encourage student to ask questions from the
  perceptive of their role
• Choose only the most useful roles for a
  particular discussion
• Rotate students through the roles

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• Book Club
• 4 components community share, reading, writing,
  and book club
• Interwoven to support students who are learning
  to read, respond to and to discuss literature in
  student-led discussion groups.

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Book Club

• Community Share teacher-led whole group
  activity introducing students to elements of
  literature
• Reading independent, supported, buddies,
  audiotape listening
• Writing daily response in student log to help
  with discussion
• Book Club student-led discussion groups
• Closing community share to share ideas from
  the small book club groups

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Literacy Block

• Focus is teacher
• direct instruction i.e. guided reading, skill
  teaching
• practice of skills and strategies (independently
  at centers or at students desks).

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Mon. Tues. Wed. Thurs. Fri.Teacher
Daily Read-Aloud

• BOOK CLUB
• Opening community share (5-15 mins.)
• Reading (10-20 mins.)
• Writing (10-15 mins.)
• Book clubs (5-20 mins.)
• Closing community share (5-20 mins.)

• LITERACY BLOCK
• Guided reading groups
• Skill centers
• WWW searchers
• Journaling
• Unit work/Writers Workshop

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Tips for Organizing for Literacy Instruction on
the Web

• http//coe.sdsu.edu/people/jmora/LiteracyFramewor
  k/
• http//learnweb.harvard.edu/2821/index.htm