After successfully running a Literature Circle program
in Year 8 English at our College for several years, it was decided
to introduce a similar program called “Reading Circles” when the Year 7s
commenced at the beginning of 2015.
Choosing
the books Reading Circles takes place in Term 2 and the novels all relate to the genre of fantasy. The books were chosen by the Curriculum Leader: Library and Information Services and the Director of Literacy, with input from the Year 7 English teachers.
The collection includes: The golden door by Emily Rodda, Dragonkeeper
by Carole Wilkinson, Percy Jackson
and the lightning thief by Rick Riordan, Song for a scarlet runner by Julie Hunt, Ingo by Helen Dunmore, Howls’
moving castle by Diana Wynne Jones, Skellig
by David Almond, The lion, the witch and
the wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, The
wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin and Northern lights by Philip Pullman. The books have been listed in
order, from easier reading level titles through to those more suited to
students who are reading at an advanced level.
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| Year 7 Reading Circle selection of titles |
Allocating
the books and groups
Currently we own 20 copies of each title – 200 books
in total for approximately 160 students. It means that each class gets to read
6 or 7 of the possible titles. The class teachers are asked to allocate the
books and groups based on the spreadsheet I create and disseminate. We don’t have
enough resources for students to pick their own books, and while there may be
some disappointment when students don’t “get the book they want” they generally
seem to accept the process and are happy that we go to the effort of putting
them into a group with like-minded readers or friends. |
| About to start Skellig in one of our Fiction nooks. |
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| We made sure we also had Australian authors represented. |
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| Adventures to be had with Percy Jackson! |
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| Excited to be reading Northern Lights |
Time Frame and
Organisation
Before the 4-week program begins, all the students and
their teachers are booked into the Auditorium for an initial presentation from
me about Reading Circles.
They have already borrowed their book from the
library and when they arrive at the Auditorium they are each given a hard copy
of the Reading Circle Booklet. The Year 7 English teachers schedule a Reading
Circle lesson into their program once a week during the month.
Many of the chosen
books are the first in a series, and last year we had a high proportion of
students wanting to borrow out the other books that followed. There was
positive feedback across all the classes asking if Reading Circles could
continue into Term 3.
The roles
Many of the familiar Literature Circle roles were
adapted for our Reading Circles program in Year 7.
Facilitators
The English teachers organize the groups, allocate the
books and give their students time for reading in class. They also oversee the
completion of the Reading Circle Planning Guide and set schedules and
due dates for the Role Sheets and Activities. On the day of the Reading
Circles’ meeting, they move around the room checking that all students are
participating appropriately, as well as assisting the time keeper.
Discussion
Leader
This is the most important role and must be performed first
each week. It is an amalgamation of summarizing and questioning. As well as
writing up a brief summary of the chapters read, Discussion Leaders are expected
to created 3-6 literal, inferential or interpretive questions. Other roles are Time Keeper and Illustrator, Word Wizard, Perfect
Puzzler and Time Liner (only
required if there are 5 group members)
Using
Google Slides
All our students have a Google account so we have made
a set of blank Google Slide templates for each book, containing every role for
the 4 weeks. Each class teacher is then able to share the template with only
those members connected to a particular book. This allows them to work on their
activities in real time with each other. The students love showing off their work
in a visual way which enables them to create and edit their presentations
before and during their Reading Circle meetings.
Conclusion
I strongly encourage other teacher-librarians to
implement a Reading Circle or Literature Circle program in their school. It is
one of my favourite ways in which to share quality literature with students and
helps promote authentic student discussion and enthusiasm for reading. Most
importantly, it develops students’ ownership and responsibility for their
learning.
