Literature Circles
Motivate students with rich discussions around texts through Literature Circles. Learning A-Z provides all the resources you
need for literature circles with any book or passage, including the thousands we offer. Refer to the Literature Circles Routines
for additional guidance.
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Guide students in choosing texts: Help students choose an appropriate text
based on their interests, background knowledge, and learning goals, and/or the
content.
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Model roles:
Demonstrate expectations and behaviors for each student role,
guide student practice, and provide feedback as students take on roles.
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Outline a plan:
Use the following recommendations when implementing Literature Circles:
- Two to three days in primary grades and three to five days in intermediate grades.
- 25-35 minutes for group meetings.
- Adjust times based on student needs.
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Identify skills and strategies for instruction:
Use curriculum maps, district expectations, and instructional standards to target skills and strategies.
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Prepare materials:
Plan for students to discuss texts in Literature Circles.
- Display a list of the selection titles in the classroom or post the list electronically.
- Provide copies of the selections available for students to browse prior to choosing what they will read.
- Have students record their first, second, and third book choices on a sheet of paper.
- Use students' choices to guide decisions for placing students into groups of three to four students. More than one group of students may be reading the same selection.
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Give a copy of the selection to each student, as well as the following Student Tools:
- Role Description and Journal for each student for the roles needed for the current round of Literature Circles
- Bookmarks for the chosen roles
- Reading Assignment and Role Planner for each student
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Showing 188 of 188 books
Fiction | Lexile 880L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 500L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 590L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 880L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 770L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 880L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1070L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 950L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 600L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 580L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 780L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 870L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 890L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 430L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 470L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 480L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 520L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 820L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 460L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 490L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 800L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 950L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 770L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 890L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 650L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 660L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 790L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 480L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 960L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 960L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 880L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 710L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 970L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 500L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 460L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 950L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 710L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 580L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 890L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 890L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1040L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 580L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 860L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 490L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 510L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 750L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 810L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 930L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1150L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 540L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 660L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 970L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1060L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 520L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1060L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 890L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 840L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 700L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 480L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 330L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 570L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 500L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 890L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 830L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 480L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 480L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 560L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 480L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 890L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 910L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 340L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 630L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 820L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1000L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 560L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1080L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 550L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1040L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 580L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 820L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 610L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 550L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 520L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 590L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 610L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 940L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 530L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 500L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 400L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 640L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 560L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 840L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 560L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 370L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 490L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 460L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 810L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 900L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 790L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 500L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 690L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 490L
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Single-Sided Book
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 790L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 860L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1040L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 960L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 630L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 880L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 910L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 870L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 740L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1020L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1050L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1100L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 490L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 490L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 620L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 640L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 1100L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 820L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 940L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 840L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 960L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1040L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 860L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1160L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 600L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1010L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 510L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 800L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 470L
-
Single-Sided Book
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 590L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 750L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 640L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 620L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 460L
-
Single-Sided Book
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1040L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 640L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 790L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 1000L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 1170L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 790L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1010L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 500L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 550L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 350L
-
Single-Sided Book
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 520L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 860L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1020L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 570L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 780L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1090L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1150L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 490L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 530L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 610L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 590L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1160L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 900L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1080L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 680L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 940L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 870L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 570L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 950L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 710L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1040L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 500L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 650L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 430L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 930L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 890L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 750L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 670L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 590L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 930L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 850L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1130L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 730L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 610L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1060L
-
Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1010L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 450L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 290L
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Single-Sided Book
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 500L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 780L
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Literature Circle Journal
Fiction | Lexile 710L
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Literature Circle Journal
Nonfiction | Lexile 1130L
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Literature Circle Journal
Getting Started
Before Literature Circles
- Introduce Literature Circles to students with the Model Lesson.
- Distribute and explain the Literature Circles Role Descriptions.
- Model the expectations for each role.
- Model how to use the Journal to record information for each role and allow students to practice.
- Form Literature Circle groups.
- Guide students in selecting roles for their meeting.
- Remind students that they will take turns filling each role.
During Literature Circles
- Circulate and coach groups as they collaborate.
- Assess individual students and groups using the Observation Checklist.
After Literature Circles
- Use assessment data to plan future instruction.
- Reteach and guide practice to help students build more proficiency with roles.
- Conference with individuals and groups of students to provide additional instruction or feedback about participation.
Model Lessons
Use the Model Lessons and annotated examples of Role Descriptions, Bookmarks,
and Journal Pages to teach students how to perform new roles.
Nonfiction Model Lesson
Biography (nonfiction), Lexile 890L
Barack Obama is a biographical text about the forty-fourth president of the United States of America.
Chronicling his life from birth until his historic election, the book educates readers on how Obama's life
experiences shaped his decisions and career path.
Character/People Tracker
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Connector
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Discussion Leader
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Literary Reactor
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Predictor
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Questioner
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Researcher
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Skill Master: Cause and Effect
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Skill Master: Main Idea and Details
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Summarizer
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Travel Tracker
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Wordsmith
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Fiction Model Lesson
Realistic (fiction), Lexile 560L
Marcus Loses Patches is about a little boy who loves playing video games. One day, he gets so wrapped up in his game that he forgets to feed his dog, Patches. When he finally gets around to feeding her, he realizes that he has forgotten to latch the gate and Patches has escaped.
Character/People Tracker
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Conflict Connector
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Connector
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Discussion Leader
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Predictor
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Questioner
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Skill Master: Sequence Events
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Summarizer
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Wordsmith
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Assessments
Facilitating Self-Evaluations
Help students monitor their own participation in groups.
Observational Checklist
Assess group participation to plan re-teaching of skills or coaching.
Getting Started
Independent Work
- Assemble a Journal.
- Prepare for the group work.
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- Refer to the Bookmark and review the responsibilities for their roles.
- Read the text.
- Record questions and responses in the Journal.
- Record notes in the Journal during and after Literature Circle meetings.
- Use the Self-Evaluation to reflect.
Group Work
- Negotiate and choose the texts they will read as a group.
- Refer to Bookmarks for role descriptions and responsibilities.
- Engage in meaningful conversation about the text.
Student Materials
Planner
Helps students stay organized and plan for each Literature Circle meeting.
Role Tools
Use Role Descriptions, Bookmarks, and Journal Pages to help students perform their chosen
roles for each reading selection.
Roles for Every Book
Discussion Leader
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Predictor
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Questioner
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Skill Master Roles
Cause and Effect
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Compare and Contrast
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Main Idea and Details
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Sequence of Events
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Bookmark
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Journal Page
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Role Description
Literary Roles
For annotated examples of Role Descriptions, Bookmarks and Journal pages, please see
Literature Circle Tools For Teachers.
Self-Evaluation
Engages students in monitoring their own participation in groups.