I found this in an article that I was reading on Literature Circles and wanted to share. I have been struggling with trying to do them the "right way" and trying to figure what way is the exactly "right way". This made it more clear to me that the way I am doing it will work too.
"there is no one way to do literature circles. Literature circles look different in every classroom; they change from teacher to teacher, grade to grade, student to student. Literature circles have no recipe, they are not a specific "program", and they never look the same from year to year -- or even from day to day. The reason? True engagement with literature within a community of learners can't possibly be prescribed -- it can only be described.
This year my literature cirlces look more like guided reading groups. However, the needs of my students require this setting more than an independent group literature circle. I have 5 groups and each group has been involved in 2 literature circles that look like guided reading groups.
Are you doing literature circles in your classroom and if so what do they look like?
I am glad to see that other people are feeling the same way about lit circles. I do tend to do guided reading groups as well. We were asked to do more strategy focused groups this year, but I found that students weren't doing as much reading. I have tried to incorporate strategies, such as students who struggle with blends and choose books that will help them work on that. I figure as long as students are enjoying reading and making progress than the lit circles are working.
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