Literature+Circles


 * Literature Circles **
 * Students will select an appropriate text from a teacher selected options. **
 * Students will work alone or in a small group. **

Before reading this text, students will be given some of the following questions on index cards to review and discuss in small groups .Questions will be answered in Roundtable fashion and then shared as a class.
 * Before Reading **

** Before Reading Questions ** 10.What would you expect to find out from reading this book? 11.Name the author.If possible, name other books written by the same author.
 * What do you already know about this topic?
 * How do you think this story may relate to your life?
 * Why do you think the author wrote this book?
 * Is this book likely to be fiction or non-fiction?
 * Do you think this story will include humor?Why or why not?
 * What style of illustration did the author choose?
 * What does the title of the book tell you?
 * What genre of book is this likely to be?
 * State your purpose for reading this book.
 * Literature Notebooks **

In addition to recording class answers that they agree with in their notebooks from the pre-reading activity, students will record what they think they will learn from reading the novel.Each day, the journal will also be used for writing three things down during the Daily Jot time. The first thing that students will write is any unknown or difficult words for a seventh grader that they came across in their reading.At the end of the time period, we will match our words and add them to a word wall .I also have words chosen from each chapter that are reoccurring and need to be known/understood for novel comprehension.They don’t define the terms at this point; just write the word and the page number.As a class we will discuss the meaning using the SAID vocabulary model, as well periodically doing activities focusing on finding meaning through context clues and SA. SAID= Synonym, Antonym, Information, DefinitionSA= structural analysis
 * Vocabulary R8.A.1.1, R8.A.1.2 **


 * During Reading Activities **

The next that the students do after reading a determined number of pages and jotting down their hard/unknown words is complete their RECAP activity for the day.

** R- Retelling R8A.1.5 **. Your job is to prepare a brief summary of today’s reading.The statement should convey the gist, key points, main highlights, and the essence of today’s reading assignment. ** E-Evaluate R8B.1.1, R8B3.3 **. Your job is to be prepared to meet with the teacher in your small group to discuss the progress of the book so far.During this time you will discuss point of view, voice, setting, character flaws, descriptive language, the difficult words, and your feelings towards the book. ** C-Connect R8A.1.3 ** .Your job is to find connections between the book that you are reading and the outside world.This means connecting the reading to your own life, happenings in the school or in the community, similar events at other times and places, to other people or problems that you are reminded of.You may also connect the story to other stories that you have read, movies that you have seen, or songs that you have heard. ** A-Art R8B.3.2 **. You job is to draw a picture related to the reading.It can be a sketch, cartoon, diagram, or scene.You can draw a picture of something that that’s discussed in your book, something that the reading reminded you of, or a picture that conveys any idea or feeling that you got from the reading.You should be able to describe your picture and the reasons for drawing it if asked during an E-day. ** P-Predict R8A.1.3 **. Your job is to predict what will happen to the main characters next.Your prediction can be for the next day’s reading or for solutions to problems.If you have finished the book, include what the author might have the main characters in a sequel.Your entry should include an explanation of why you made your prediction and also a reflection on past predictions.
 * RECAP **

The third thing that they must write in their books is in reflection with their KED.The KED is the Key Element of the Day.KEDs are taken from the PA anchors that have beenintroduced in class and can be reviewed in their novel. Sample KEDs Day 1- POV Day 2- Setting Day 3- Main Characters Day 4- Plot Day 5- Theme Day 6- Figurative language Day 7- Characterization: Trip journal Day 8- Vocabulary Day 9- Setting Day 10- Characters Day 11- Personification Day 12- Vocabulary Day 13- Essential/ non- essential information Day 14- Fact and opinion Day 15- Inference
 * KEDS R7B.2.1 **