Recent Changes

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Digital Literature Circles
and Shannon Brooks,Roos, English Teacher
Hampton Township School District
PETE&C 2014 and TRETC 2013

Presented by: Andrew Halter, Instructional Coach and Shannon Brooks, English Teacher
Hampton Township School District
TRETCPETE&C 2014 and TRETC 2013
What is a Literature Circle?
Literature circles are small groups of students who gather together to discuss a piece of text in depth. The discussion is guided by students' responses to what they have read. 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 texts. 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 (Noe and Johnson 1999). It may help you to think of a literature circle as a “mini” Socratic Seminar.

Why "Digital?"
Digital in this case does not mean just an online discussion. We recognize the importance of face to face discussion in these lit circles, so we really did not want to eliminate that component. Instead, we used a Wikispaces as a primary means of preparation and as a place to provide resources. We also incorporated Google Docs so students could submit work prior to the discussion, which gave us the opportunity to see their notes and offer suggestions prior to the actual discussion. This also allowed students preparing for the same role to give each other feedback and ask each other questions both in and out of the classroom. In addition, we offered optional digital tools that would enhance their presentations. These tools differed depending on the role. On another level, we found it beneficial to add a discussion "room" for all students in any given role so they could swap ideas, ask questions and get feedback from other students who were assigned the same role.
Digital tools to consider:Tools:
Wikis- as a platform for housing all instructions, providing resources, and creating a network of digital teams that can be accessed anywhere, anytime.
Google Docs - as a tool for preparing and delivering collaborative thought both in and out of the classroom
iPads - as a handheld device for accessing and sharing Google Docs and enhancing discussion as a real time research tool. These also worked well for teachers to see discussion points for each group as they walked around to facilitate.
Digital Images and, Maps Other Web 2.o Tools-- to enhance discussion visually
The ProcessProcess:
Digital Lit Circles for a Novel
Digital Lit Circles for Short Fiction
Sample Student Responses
Google Docs Preparation Template
Related Reading & Research:
Talking About Talk: Reclaiming the Value and Power of Literature Circles, by Heidi Mills and Louise Jennings
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Literature circles are small groups of students who gather together to discuss a piece of text in depth. The discussion is guided by students' responses to what they have read. 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 texts. 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 (Noe and Johnson 1999). It may help you to think of a literature circle as a “mini” Socratic Seminar.
Why "Digital?"
same role.
Digital tools to consider:
Wikis- as a platform for housing all instructions, providing resources, and creating a network of digital teams that can be accessed anywhere, anytime.

Team Cut Bank
Group member Evaluation Form Click Here! Please submit one evaluation for each of your group members.Group member Evaluation Form Click Here! Please submit one evaluation for **each** of your group members.
Literature Circle Participation Rubric
Behavior during Lit Circle
Never
Sometimes
Often/Always
Stayed on task during group activities (2 points)
Treated group members with respect (2 points)
Made significant contributions to the group discussion (4 points)
Completed assigned work and came to the class prepared (2 points)
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Lit Circle Keys for SuccessLit Circle Keys for Success
Keep up with the reading! How can you discuss what you have not read?