Literature circles involve small temporary discussion groups where students choose their own reading material. The groups are student-centered and allow for independence, responsibility, and ownership over reading. Students take on roles like facilitator, illustrator, or connector to guide discussions focused on insights and questions rather than skills or the curriculum. Benefits include student-centered learning, collaboration, and empowering students to find their own meaning. Challenges can arise from a lack of external incentives, discomfort with collaboration over competition, adherence to timelines, understanding of roles, and opinions on grouping.

1. Literature
Circles
Katie LaFreniere

2. Teachers “traditionally allow kids little
choice or ownership of their reading, instead
marching them through an endless lockstep
series of teacher-selected and teacher-
controlled readings... The result:kids don’t get
enough practice with reading to get good at it-
or like it”
- Harvey Daniels

3. What are literature
circles?
Literature circles are small, temporary
discussion groups of students who have
chosen to read the same work of literature.

4. Literature Circles are... Literature Circles are not...
Reader response centered Teacher and text centered
Part of a balanced literacy program The entire reading curriculum
Teacher-assigned groups formed solely by
Groups formed by book choice
ability
Structured for student independence, Unstructured, uncontrolled “talk time”
responsibility, and ownership without accountability
Guided primarily by student insights and Guided primarily by teacher or curriculum-
questions based questions
Intended as a context in which to apply
Intended as a place to do skills work
reading and writing skills
Flexible and fluid Tied to a prescriptive recipe

5. What are the basic procedures of
literature circles?
The teacher should preview each book option
with the class. Students should be given time
to “browse”.
Students form their own groups and choose
their own reading materials.
Groups create and maintain a timeline of due
dates.
Students assume roles within their groups that
rotate from meeting to meeting.

6. Literature circle basics continued:
Groups meet regularly. The students must
bring notes, questions, or drawings to guide
discussions.
Discussions should be open and natural-
welcoming to connections, digressions,
imagination, and even disagreement.
The teacher acts as a facilitator not a
participant.
Evaluation is primarily by teacher observation
and self-evaluation.

7. What are some common
roles that students have?
Facilitator: creates open-ended questions and moderates the discussion
Illustrator: creates visual representations of the reading
Highlighter: brings attention to key lines and details from the text
Vocabulary Expert: defines important or unfamiliar words
Connector: points out relationships between the reading and the real
world
Travel Guide: illustrates or describes the setting
Summarizer: helps peers see the overall picture
Investigator: finds background information on related topics

8. What about grades?
Self-assessment
Peer Assessment
Observations
Conferences
Portfolios
Journals
Student Artifacts
Projects

9. What are the benefits of
literature circles?
Student centered learning
Freedom to talk, challenge, experiment, and
collaborate
Empowers students to find their own meaning
Challenges the notion that teachers have all of
the predetermined answers
Versatile and easily modified to meet a variety
of ages, tastes, and needs

10. What challenges can arise
with literature circles?
External incentives such as tests and grades are not as
prevalent.
Many high achieving students are more familiar (and
comfortable) with competition than collaboration.
Students may not adhere to the timeline that their
group decides on.
Students may not understand the responsibilities of
their given role.
Differing opinions exist on heterogeneous vs.
homogeneous grouping.