Double-Entry Journals: Lit Circles

Website
"1. Students choose their own reading materials."
http://www.literaturecircles.com/
"9. The teacher serves as a facilitator, not a group member or instructor."
www.literaturecircles.com
"Literature circles guide students to deeper understanding of what they read through structered discussion. . ."
http://www.litcircles.org/

Response
I like how the students get a choice in what they can read. I think students are more likely to participate and share in discussion when they read the books they choose. When students are given a specific book and told to read it, sometimes they have a negative attitude before they even start the book.

I like this statement because it gives students some freedom. If students know the teacher is going to do all of the talking then it is easy for them to sit back and keep quiet. The literature circles are based on the students response to what they have read. It is also comforting to know that if the group gets stuck, the teacher will be there to help spark a discussion.

When students read a passage in a book, each student may get something different out of it. When students share what they think about what they read or what they thought the author meant by a certain quote, everybody is learning off of each other. I think students learn more through thier peers. I think having this type of discussion will be very beneficial for all students.