Literature Circles

 

If you want to see kids get excited about reading, let them choose their own books and talk about them in groups. That's the basic idea behind Literature Circles, or Book Clubs. If you're new to Literature Circles, or even if you are a pro, visit my Classroom Book Clubs page and watch the 5-minute introduction or watch the webinar below. Then check out the links to other Literature Circle resources on Teaching Resources.

Literature Circles Made Easy Webinar

Want to learn about Classroom Book Clubs? Click below to watch the recording of Laura's Literature Circles Made Easy webinar. The version on this page is an Mp4 version that can be viewed on a mobile device or on your computer. To see other options for viewing the webinar or reading the chat log, scroll down below this video.

 

Options for Viewing Literature Circles Made Easy Webinar

• Full Recording in Blackboard - Includes the participant introduction; the actual webinar starts about 20 minutes into the session. You can scroll over to start there if you want to skip the intro. You'll be able to see the chat area as the webinar progresses.
• Literature Circles Made Easy Chat Transcript - PDF File of unedited chat transcript - 83 pages long but has lots of great strategies from participants. Just scroll and scan for book titles, websites, and other info.

Links to Lit Circle Pages on Teaching Resources

• Literature Circle Models
• Classroom Book Clubs
• Literature Circle Management Ideas
• Literature Circle Printables

Other Resources

Over the years, I have read many wonderful resources to help me get started with Literature Circles, and I would like to share my four favorite books with you. To help you decide which books might best meet your needs, I've written a short recommendation for each. Enjoy!

Moving Forward with Literature Circles - Inspiring book, easy to read, great for upper elementary
Mini-Lessons for Literature Circles- Outstanding resource, especially for middle and high school teachers. Click here for a 37-page preview online.
Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs - An updated version of the Harvey Daniels classic
Getting Started with Literature Circles - Excellent resource for all teachers - great section for K-2 teachers