Lesson Plan:  Introduction to Literature Circles III

Focus/Context

            Now that the students have experienced the general context of literature circles, they will be given a choice of any text from the What a Story anthology and magazine (or another source which is accessible to all members of the group for reading), which they will study in a literature circle.  They will be grouped according to their selection, with the limitation that no more than six people and no fewer than four people be in one group.  The selections will be done as a class and recorded by the teacher.

Specific Curriculum Outcomes  

1. Students will be expected to use writing and other forms of representation to explore, clarify, and reflect on their thoughts, feelings, experiences, and learnings; and to use their imaginations.

2. Students will be expected to examine others’ ideas and synthesize what is helpful to clarify and extend their own understanding.

3. Students will be expected to respond critically to a range of texts, applying their understanding of language, form and genre.

4. Students will be expected to respond personally to a range of texts.

Activities

• Students will read their selection as a group (either individually or they may select a reader or take turns).

• Students will decide which members will assume which discussion role for this session (each group will get a copy of the role sheets, but they will make notes, write, draw, etc. on separate sheets of paper to limit the amount of photocopying required).

• Students will interrogate the text as a group.

• Each group will select a method of presentation ( a list of possible methods will be made available and discussed with the class – Reproducible Master #8) designed to inform and expand the knowledge of their fellow classmates -- these presentations will reflect the group’s cumulative understanding of the text.  This presentation must be discussed with the teacher before a final decision is made.

• Each student will pass in their discussion role sheets for assessment when this literature circle breaks-up.

Assessment

·        Students’ effort to participate in the groups will be gauged using a check-sheet (Reproducible Master #7).

·        Students will be evaluated in terms of their final presentation using a scoring rubric designed to assess their particular form of presentation (these cannot be constructed until methods of presenting are selected by each group).*** 

·        Students will complete a Self-Assessment Form (Reproducible Master #9) and submit it at the end of the group presentation.  This form has been adapted from one located at

http://www.sasked.gov.sk.ca/docs/mla/circle/selfass.html.

Resources

• A Mountain Legend by Jordan Wheeler (What a Story!: Anthology)
• What a Story!: Anthology and Magazine

*Note:  All scoring rubrics will be shared with the class prior to evaluation.

**Note:  At this point, students ought to be familiar enough with the dynamics of literature circles to delve into a study of a larger text, namely Make or Break Spring by Janet McNaughton.  If this is not the case, more preparation may be needed or another form of educating must be employed – a decision will be made before students proceed in their study of this novel.

***Note:  Samples of rubrics which were constructed during the course of this project can be found in the section entitled: Sample Rubrics.

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