05.11 - Lit Circle Introduction and Overview

We started today's class by going over the structure for literature circles and the work that people will be doing in their literature circle with the group novel.

Since each person will eventually have each role in the literature circles we reviewed all of the roles together. To prevent there from being an information overload though, I handed out role overview sheets and worksheets only to the people that have that role this week.

The presentation we used in class is available here: Literature Circles Overview

Handouts for all roles (role overview and worksheets) are available below.

Following this presentation, everyone had the remaining time to work on reading or their groundwork for their role this week. I was available to answer questions and check in with people on their work.

Handouts:

• Analyst
• Analyst: Role Overview
• Analyst Worksheet
• Facilitator
• Facilitator: Role Overview
• Facilitator: Worksheet
• Linguist
• Linguist: Role Overview
• Linguist: Worksheet
• Researcher
• Researcher: Role Overview
• Researcher: Worksheet

Submitted Today:
- - -

Homework:

• Reading and groundwork related to your role for this weeks section in your lit circle novel.

05.08 - No Class: NWEA Testing

We did not have a regular class today as everyone was finishing up their NWEA testing. 
When people were finished with their tests they were able to work on future exploration revisions and/or polish drafts of their introduction and conclusion.

Homework:

Revisions:

• Due Today - Future Exploration project (sources, notecards, interview questions, interview notes, paper)

05.07 - No Class: NWEA Testing

We did not have a regular class today as everyone was taking the NWEA test for language. We will be using tomorrow as a wrap up day for both tests.

Homework:

Revisions:

• Due Friday, 5/08Future Exploration project (sources, notecards, interview questions, interview notes, paper)

05.06 - No Class: NWEA Testing

We did not have a regular class today as everyone was taking the NWEA test for reading. We will be taking the NWEA language test tomorrow with Friday as a wrap up day for both tests.

Homework:

Revisions:

• Due Friday, 5/08Future Exploration project (sources, notecards, interview questions, interview notes, paper)

05.05 - Lit Circle Scheduling

We started today's class with a review of the quote practice work that we began at the end of class yesterday. In class, we discussed the relevant context for the Anthem quote and then the various techniques that people used to discuss the quote.

Following this, I posted the lit circle novels and groups that people would be working in for our unit starting next week. Working in these groups, people came up with a reading schedule for their book and assigned roles for each person throughout the various weeks (see below).

At the end of class, we took time to discuss another quote (this one from The Hunger Games which everyone had read or watched).

(Click Image to Enlarge)

Work Submitted:

• Quote Practice

Handouts:

• Literature Circle Work Schedule (group of 3)
• Literature Circle Work Schedule (group of 4)

Homework:

Revisions:

• Due Friday, 5/08Future Exploration project (sources, notecards, interview questions, interview notes, paper)

05.04 - Lit Circle Text Selection

In today's class we were reviewing a selection of books for literature circles that we will be beginning next week. For this review people sat in groups and we circulated the collection of books. Everyone had time to check out the book and read the first several pages taking notes on things they liked and things they did not like. When everyone had seen all of the books, they rated which book would be their first choice, second choice, and so forth. I will use these sheets to assign people to literature circle groups.

Part of our work with literature circles will involved discussing quotes from the novels people read. We have worked with this sort of discussion already this year and took a look at making these discussions more focused and meaningful. To do this, we looked at the various approaches to quote discussion that someone can use (see handout below). For homework, everyone should complete the practice section of this handout.

Work Submitted:

• Future Exploration Conclusion (added to future exploration paper) - see last weeks work w/ conclusions for more information.

Handouts:

• Lit Circle Note Sheet
• Quote Practice

Homework:

• Complete the quote practice notesheet.

Revisions:

• Due Friday, 5/08Future Exploration project (sources, notecards, interview questions, interview notes, paper)

05.01 - Conclusions (models and drafting)

We started today's class by wrapping up the evaluation of some sample conclusions via the polar opposites activity (see below).

Next, I provided everyone with a model conclusion which was intended to serve as a template for other conclusions. While not necessarily perfect, this conclusion can help people to understand what an effective conclusion can look like (see handouts). We evaluated and critiqued this conclusion with the polar opposites format as well.

For homework, everyone should draft a conclusion for their future exploration paper.

Conclusion Presentation and Polar Opposites Activity

Handouts:

• Sample Conclusions
• Model Conclusion (Barista)

Submitted Today:

• Future Exploration introduction (added on to paper)
• Future Exploration Revisions (as completed) (submitted only when all planned revisions are complete)

Homework:

• Draft a conclusion (added to the end of your future exploration paper)

Revisions:

• Due Friday, 5/08Future Exploration project (sources, notecards, interview questions, interview notes, paper)