Literature Circle Models

After experimenting for many years, I've discovered an approach that's easy, fun, and effective. I refer to it as Classroom Book Clubs because it's a more relaxed method of doing Literature Circles that doesn't involve roles. You can view a narrated slidecast to this model by scrolling down to the Classroom Book Clubs section.

On this page you can also learn about different types of Literature Circles. I've had some success with all the models below, but all models haven't been successful with all groups of students. Read through the various descriptions and find something that feels right to you. Each description has a link to the part of the page that describes how to do a specific type of Literature Circles.

Ways to Structure Literature Circles

• Classroom Book Clubs - My favorite method at the moment is a flexible approach to Literature Circles that does not require the use of extensive handouts and assignment booklets. I call it Classroom Book Clubs because it's a more relaxed approach to literature circles. I have found it to be very effective for promoting the joy of reading and helping kids connect through literature.
• Mini Literature Circles - Want a quick and easy introduction to Literature Circles? This method can be used with the leveled readers that come with many reading series.
• Literature Circles with Roles - I personally don't recommend this model, but I've left information about it on this page because many people have heard of it. I have not found it to be particularly effective with all types of learners. Read Harvey Daniel's book Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in the Student Centered Classroom to learn about this model. You can find a simple version listed below on this page, but if the model appeals to you, you would enjoy Harvey Daniel's book. Be aware that Harvey Daniels himself no longer advocates this extensive use of this model, but there are many other wonderful ideas in the book.
• Nonfiction Literature Circles - My newest addition to this collection of Literature Circle strategies is Nonfiction Literature Circles. Adding nonfiction has been the missing piece of the reading puzzle for me!
• Structured Literature Circles - The structured approach works well if you provide plenty of class time for reading and preparing assignments since it's more time-consuming than other models. It's a fairly easy model for a teacher to implement without the help of a teacher assistant, but I don't believe it to be effective with lower-achieving students. Teachers like it because of it's structure, but it's not as popular with students because of the heavy work load.
• Literary Lunch Bunches - Literary Lunch Bunches are fun, informal Literature Circles that kids attend on a voluntary basis. The program is called Literary Lunch Bunch because you hold the meetings during lunch, in your classroom or another quiet area (such as outside at a picnic table).

Classroom Book Clubs

I love this model because it's a very flexible and fun approach. Below you can view an introduction that explains the basic steps. If you want to learn specific strategies for implementing book clubs, you'll enjoy my Classroom Book Clubs eLearning Course. It's a series of narrated slidecasts, almost like a session of professional development on how to implement Literature Circles.

 

Basic Steps for Classroom Book Clubs:

1. Choose 3 or 4 books on different levels and obtain multiple copies of each title. You'll need 6 to 8 copies of each depending on your class size.
2. Present the books to students and ask them to prioritize the books.
3. Use this information to create book club groups.
4. Decide on a written response method (anything from bookmarks or sticky notes to response journals).
5. For three or four days, students read alone, with a partner, or in small groups. As students read, they mark discussion points in their books with sticky notes or write in response journals.
6. On the Book Club meeting day students meet with their reading groups. At that time they discuss their book and share their written responses with each other.
7. When a group finishes a book, collect their journals and written responses and use that information plus your own observations to assign a grade for that round of Book Clubs.

Getting Started With Literature Circles is a terrific resource for this model even though they don't refer to it as classroom Book Clubs. The book has a companion resource called Literature Circles Resource Guide which is very useful. In fact, the Literature Circle Reflection Form I use to evaluate my students is adapted from a form I found in this book.

Mini Literature Circles

Are you required to use a basal reading program in your classroom? Many programs have leveled readers that can be used as a way of introducing Literature Circles. Leveled readers are thin paperback stories or nonfiction selections, and they are written on a variety of reading levels. A Mini Literature Circle can be done in one or two days depending on the time allowed. Assign 3 or 4 students to a leveled reader based on their reading level. Alternatively, allow students to browse through the selection and choose the group they want to join. If you have 6 or 7 copies of each book, split the group in half for the Literature Circle discussion since the groups seem to work best with 3 or 4 students. Give class time for students to read the leveled reader alone, with a partner, or with audio support. Then provide a Journal Prompt such as the ones described in the section above. Allow class time to write a response, then form discussion groups. Print out the Mini Literature Circle directions, and give to one person in each group who will serve as the discussion leader. Each person will need 2 popsicle sticks or craft sticks for the Talking Sticks discussion method used in this activity. As the students meet to discuss the book, circulate through the room to observe their discussions and interactions.

Literature Circles with Roles

Some students enjoy having roles within their Literature Circles. These roles rotate for each meeting. One way to use roles is to use the full Literature Packet or the more simple Literature Circles Preparation Form. Give students a copy of the Literature Circle Role Descriptions. Make one Role Finder Dial per team. Assign each person on the team one role and have them prepare their assignment as described. On the day of the meeting, all students complete their worksheet during the meeting itself. For the next meeting, turn the dial one place to see the new role assignments. Students keep rotating roles until they finish their book. You might want to be aware that many teachers are moving away from Literature Circles with roles to less structured approaches. Sometimes the use of roles prevents deeper discussion of the book.

Nonfiction Literature Circles

Eventually, I began to do Literature Circles with nonfiction books, and at first I used the same basic format as my fiction circles. Then I realized that nonfiction books are different and the meeting structure could benefit from some tweaking. First of all, I developed some Nonfiction Response Questions for their Reading Response Logs. Then I decided to allow students to read together every day since the text is generally more difficult for them. They don't do well with reading on their own when the vocabulary is so challenging. They also seem to like to talk about all the new things they are learning. So now we have what we call "reading days" and what we call "meeting days." On the reading days they simply read together and take notes on what they are reading. They may stop and discuss the material, but they shouldn't get bogged down for too long. When they finish the book, we schedule a Meeting Day. They have to write a response in their Response Log prior to the meeting. On the day of the meeting they read their responses and discuss what they thought of the book. I try to meet with each group for a few minutes, and I generally have Discussion Cards that they discuss together. I prepare a different set of question cards for each book, and the questions guide them through some of the more important points of the book. (See sample - Whales and Dolphins). Finally, they take their AR test on the book and complete the Nonfiction Reflection Form.

Structured Literature Circles

This method is a very structured approach to Literature Circles. It does not involve roles or having teams meet simultaneously. This method requires each group to meet once a week with the teacher in a small group setting. The other students use this time to independently read and prepare for their own Literature Circle meetings. The entire process takes about a month. I give out the books during Week 1, and each group has one Literature Circle meeting a week for the next 3 weeks.

Materials: In order to best understand this method, you should print out the following files: Literature Circle Packet, Literature Circle Assignment Dates, Character Map,  Reading Response Questions, Venn Diagram, and the Story Plot Flow Map. You'll also need How to Lead a Literature Circle.

Structured Literature Packet Assembly:

Assemble one Literature Packet for each student by placing the pages in the order described below. Each lesson consists of the same 2 pages plus a different graphic organizer. The graphic organizers listed below are just suggestions. You can use any graphic organizers that seem appropriate for the book. This packet will last them the entire month. I run off the whole packet and staple it together. I punch 3 holes in the packet and my students put their packets in pocket folders.

• Overview page (dates and directions)
• Lesson 1: Summary/Vocabulary page, Question page, Character Map
• Lesson 2: Summary/Vocabulary page, Question page, Venn Diagram
• Lesson 3: Summary/Vocabulary page, Question page, Story Plot Map
• Illustration page

Structured Literature Circle Steps:

1. Choose three books for which you can find multiple copies. If you have 24 students, you will need approximately 8 copies of each book, plus one of each for yourself. It's best to choose a challenging book, an average book, and an easy book to meet the needs of different students in your class.
2. Allow students to choose which book circle they would like to join. You can post a sign-up sheet or have the kids write their choices on slips of paper for you to assign. Students generally choose the level that's right for them. If a student chooses a book that's too difficult, I pull the student aside and have them read a page of the book aloud to me. If they aren't convinced, I point out that they will have to read many more pages a week than the other groups. If they still want the book, I let them give it a try. (I allow them to switch books before the first meeting date if I have enough copies.)
3. Divide each book into 3 sections, always ending at the end of a chapter. Decide which day of the week you will meet with each group. I try to keep the same day of the week for the for each group. (I generally avoid having meetings on Monday. Many children seem to forget their assignments over the weekend and come to class unprepared.) 
4. For each book, fill out one section of the Literature Circle Assignment Dates form. Duplicate 9 or 10 copies and cut them apart. The students use these as bookmarks to help remind them of their assignment dates.
5. Give each student one Literature Packet and the novel they chose. Have them transfer the meeting date information into the front of the packet in case they lose their Assignment slip. Allow some class time for silent reading and independent preparation of the first lesson (3 pages in the packet.) Explain that on the Question page, the students should write 3 of their own questions and answer them. You will give them the Teacher Question right before they sit down to have their circle meeting. (This is your chance to assess whether or not they really read the section!)
6. For each Literature Circle Meeting, follow the steps outlined in How to Lead a Literature Circle Meeting.
7. Prior to the last meeting, have students illustrate their favorite part of the book and write a caption to go with the picture. Allow them to share their illustrations during the final Literature Circle Meeting.