Literature+Circles

=Literature Circles=

What the Literature Says?
Literature Circles burst upon the scene in the early 90's, and were formally introduced by Harvey Daniels. Initially created to generate academic discussion in a low achieving socio-economically diverse school in Chicago, Harvey Daniels began assigning roles to small groups as a way for students to take ownership and participate in their own student generated discussions of the literature under study. Initially Daniels assigned roles to students to serve as launching points for small group discussion. Each student in the small group would adopt the roles (questioner, connector, sketch artist, word wizard, passage master, and literary luminary) taking turns to point out one of their responses to develop a natural flow of discussion. The literature circles in this way help students to realize that literature can be viewed through many perspectives.

[|Explore this Literature Circles Resource Site]

Questions to consider when discussing with your blog buddy:
How can digital book clubs or literature circles be utilized in the adolescent literature classroom, and why might they be of value? //What are some different ways teachers can moderate the digital book club circles?//

Mary's Thoughts
Though we will be practicing digital literature circles using the formal roles that Harvey Daniels created, it is important to note that once students begin to understand the various ways he or she can respond using diverse perspectives, the formal roles can be dropped in favor of a more natural conversation. The teacher's role in assessing literature circles is to observe each group as they begin the discussion, and ensure that each student is successful in demonstrating the following 1.) The student is contributing to the discussion in a polite, and responsive manner. Students should listen, affirm understanding of others' responses or ask for clarity. Each student is responsible for moving the conversation along. When the conversation comes to a natural lull, the next student in the circle will present his or her response.

2.) The teacher should observe that everyone "did the work" (this could be in the form of observable written work, notes, sketches, etc.) It is unfair for everyone to receive full credit of the work was not done in advance to prepare for the literature circle.

3.) In a face to face literature circle, the teacher would ensure that all desks were touching and that all students were physically and mentally engaged in the discussion. In a virtual environment, the teacher would make sure of the same by observing the discussion online.

Technology Knowledge
There are many ways to create an online space for literature circles in your classroom. Here is some guidance on one method, using the digital tool within D2L, Blackboard Collaborate See the two guides for you below. The first is a link to a UWRF Department of Technology Services step by step instructions [|Blackboard_Collaborate_11-_Participant_QRG.pdf] Or you can refer to the video below media type="youtube" key="esVK5EWvUs8" height="315" width="420"

Assignment
You will be placed In small groups of five, according to the novel you have been assigned to read for digital literature circles. Using Blackboard Collaborate, you will be holding your own literature circles, each playing a different role ( questioner, connector, sketch artist, passage master, word wizard, and literary luminary). These roles will be described on the WIKI. The Literature circles will take place in the online meeting rooms in D2L and each meeting will one hour in length. There will be two weekly digital literature circle meetings. Listed below are descriptions of the roles that students (and you) can take on when participating in literature circles. These come from the book Daniels, H. (2002) Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs and Reading Groups. Portland,ME: Stenhouse Publishers.
 * Digital Literature Circles**

[|Questioner] [|Connector] [|Illustrator:sketch artist] [|PassageMaster] [|WordWizard] [|Literary Luminary] (modified by me) Week 1 || Anthony & Joe || Jessica || Dean || Stacey || Lisa ||  || Joe || Jessica || Anthony ||  || Dean || Week 1 || Traci || Carrie || Scott || Melissa ||  ||   || Week 1 || Sara || Caitlin || Erica || Karel || Rhonda ||  || Week 1 || Corey || Charysse || Christine || Amy || Helen ||  || Week 1 || Jennifer || Kelly || Aubrey || Kirsten ||  ||   ||
 * || **Questioner** || **Connector** || **Sketch Artist** || **Passage Master** || **Word Wizard** || **Literary Luminary** ||
 * **Absolutely True Diary...**
 * Week 2 || Lisa B. || Stacey &
 * **FunHome**
 * Week 2 || Carrie || Scott || Traci ||  ||   || Melissa ||
 * **Speak**
 * Week 2 || Karel || Rhonda || Caitlin || Erica ||  || Sara ||
 * **Stargirl**
 * Week 2 || Helen || Corey || Amy || Christine ||  || Charysse ||
 * **Holes**
 * Week 2 || Kelly || Jennifer || Kirsten ||  ||   || Aubrey ||

Assessment of your Assignment
[|Literature Circles Expectations and Rubric]