Then....it hit me: I could use Literature Circle work for my students to do while I meet with groups at the horseshoe table in the back.
It was perfect because I could use Literature Circle Roles endlessly because they are designed to work with any piece of literature.
While I am reading and working with my guided reading group, the rest of my class is reading books (about 4 different books/groups) and working on their Literature Circle work.
Once a week I have my groups meet in their Literature Circles and I circulate to assess their group dynamics and listen in on their conversations. This is all after I have introduced each role one-by-one and then had each Literature Circle meet individually. During their individual meeting time, I sit just outside of the circle to listen, take notes, record important questions, and provide feedback.
Once a week I have my groups meet in their Literature Circles and I circulate to assess their group dynamics and listen in on their conversations. This is all after I have introduced each role one-by-one and then had each Literature Circle meet individually. During their individual meeting time, I sit just outside of the circle to listen, take notes, record important questions, and provide feedback.
With the implementation of the Common Core Standards I have begun to question how appropriate the Literature Circle jobs I have are. Upon researching I found that (with a bit of tweaking) I could align my Literature Circle roles with the Common Core Standards. Of course, nothing is better than a teacher led activity or lesson to teach the standards and I don't believe that these sheets can be your only means of teaching the CCLS but they are a good tool to have.
They are on sale on Teachers Pay Teachers right now. They are perfect for anyone looking to incorporate Literature Circle into their Common Core reading time.
Enjoy!