Books That Help Make You A Better Teacher: Literature Circles by Harvey Daniels

BLURB:

Two potent ideas - independent reading and cooperative learning - come together in this practical and exciting book.

This unique model of literature circles was developed by a team of midwest teachers who combined local inventions with models appearing in the national professional literature. Daniels and his colleagues have been especially concerned with the issues of management, the preparation of students, and enacting the principles of classroom democracy and group dynamics. Their special contribution has been to add to literature circles the key formal elements of collaborative learning-particularly through the varied roles used to guide students in newly-formed groups.

The book presents a particularly effective way of getting started, using temporary role sheets to create quick, successful implementation of student-led discussion groups. Also offered are a variety of structures and procedures for managing literature circles over the long run, strategies which solidify and deepen the contribution which this special activity can make to balance the curriculum across grade levels.

Drawing on stories from twenty-two classroom teachers who work with students from kindergarten through college, this book delivers ample guidance and inspiration for teachers who want to implement literature circles for themselves.

This book is an easy-to-follow guide on how to get literature circles up and running in your classroom. Students are divided into groups and each student is given a role that changes with each session. There are handouts and instructions on how these roles should function. 

I used this with each group using the same book and also with each group reading different books. The kids enjoyed directing their own discussion and reading assignments.

The one caveat I have for using lit circles is that if you have a high rate of absenteeism, it is going to be more problematic. I had more success with advanced classes simply because their attendance was better.

I will say that this book made me look harder at how I was assigning independent reading and how I was leading discussions. I love the idea of giving students some autonomy over what happens in the classroom. It isn't always possible, of course, but this book offers a great way to do that.