You may hear talk about events and characters in the book, the author's craft, or personal experiences related to the story. Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. Collaboration is at the heart of this approach. Students reshape and add onto their understanding as they construct meaning with other readers. Finally, literature circles guide students to deeper understanding of what they read through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response.
Literature Circles are . . .
Literature Circles are not . . . The chart isn't based on one teacher's experience, but a composite of some of the possible steps teachers take as they work with literature circles. Component Some First Steps . Some Next Steps . Some Later Steps .