In the past, I have given book talks and formed my groups based on student choice. I have also just picked books and told the groups what they would be reading.
From doing both, I have found that I enjoy giving book talks better and then having the students vote on their top 2 books and go from there. The only problem with this that I ran into this year was my literature cirlce groups were all reading at different reading levels. Sometimes I noticed the higher level readers getting fustrated with the lower level readers because of their reading ability, not coming to group prepared, etc.. In a way, it helps everyone learn patience and how everyone reads at different levels.
Is it okay to have literature circles with mixed levels?
One thing that I would like to try after the MCA's for one last literature circle before the year ends in having students give the book talks. I will select 5 students to give book talks. Each one at a different reading level. This will help accomodate all readers in the classroom and have a variety of choices. I will form groups on student's choice based on student book talks. I will also tell students that they person giving the book talk is just giving the book talk. It doesn't mean that person will be involved with that book. I am hoping this will elimintate kids voting for a book based on the presenter.
One question that I wanted to ask:
ReplyDeleteHow do you form your groups?
I usually give a book talk but also include what level each book is (approx.) and how many pages it is. I remind them that they will be responsible for reading the whole book and completing the work. Then I have each child rate their top 4 choices out of the six books. (That way I can put kids in groups that are a little more appropriate for them.)
ReplyDeleteI love having mixed level book clubs! The low readers get so much satisfaction out of reading a book that the higher readers are also reading. I've even recruited parent "assistants" so that lower kids can stay on track with the reading. (The kids still do the work but the parents read with them out in the cluster if volunteers or at home if their own parents.)