05.14 - Discussion Prep and Informal Discussion

We started today's class with a review of the agenda for discussion prep meetings which lead into discussion prep meetings for each lit circle group. This weeks discussion was an informal one so that everyone could become familiar with the set up and format for lit circle discussions.

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Following the lit circle discussion prep meeting, everyone had about 20 minutes to work on finalizing their synthesis work for the week and/or review the information that was shared in the discussion prep meeting. We then moved into lit circle discussions for the week with people discussing the current section in their reading for about 15 minutes.

(Click Image to Enlarge)

(Click Image to Enlarge)

After people had time to share out the most interesting idea that came up in their reading, everyone received week two role overview sheets and worksheets so that they may begin that work for next week.

Handouts:

See appropriate role overview and worksheets below.

Resources:

• Literature Circles
• Introduction to Lit Circles
• Work Schedule - Thursday Discussion
• Work Schedule - Friday Discussion
• Analyst
• Analyst: Role Overview
• Analyst Worksheet
• Facilitator
• Facilitator: Role Overview
• Facilitator: Worksheet
• Linguist
• Linguist: Role Overview
• Linguist: Worksheet
• Resources for Linguists
• Researcher
• Researcher: Role Overview
• Researcher: Worksheet
• Resources for Researchers

Work Submitted: 

- - -

Homework:

• If you did not complete your week 1 synthesis work for this week, do so for homework.
• Reading and groundwork for your lit circle novel as fits your role and schedule for week two (2).
• Thursday Discussion (I am Legend)
• Friday Discussion (Animal Farm, Brave New World)

05.13 - Lit Circles: Groundwork Focus

At the beginning of class today, we analyzed the model groundwork responses on the role overview sheets. Everyone responded to the prompt below and then we checked in with people in each of the lit circle roles to hear their observations (see below). These observations served as a checklist that people should use to make sure their groundwork responses meet all of the identified criteria.

(Click Image to Enlarge)

(Click Image to Enlarge)

Everyone then had the rest of the period to begin working on their reading and groundwork for their novel. I was on hand to check in with people and help them with their work. 

At the end of class we reviewed the resources for linguists and researchers that were added to the resource list below.

• Resources for Researchers
• Resources for Linguists

Tomorrow in class we will have a discussion prep meeting and then a full discussion of this week's section of the novel.

Handouts:

- - - 

Resources:

• Literature Circles
• Introduction to Lit Circles
• Work Schedule - Thursday Discussion
• Work Schedule - Friday Discussion
• Analyst
• Analyst: Role Overview
• Analyst Worksheet
• Facilitator
• Facilitator: Role Overview
• Facilitator: Worksheet
• Linguist
• Linguist: Role Overview
• Linguist: Worksheet
• Resources for Linguists
• Researcher
• Researcher: Role Overview
• Researcher: Worksheet
• Resources for Researchers

Work Submitted: 

- - -

Homework:

Reading and groundwork for your lit circle novel as fits your role and schedule for the week.

Thursday Discussion (I am Legend)

Friday Discussion (Animal Farm, Brave New World)

05.12 - Lit Circles: Reading and Groundwork

At the beginning of class today, we went over the work schedule for circles that will be having their discussions on Thursday and those having their discussions on Friday (see handouts below). The breakdown on this was as follows:

Thursday Discussion - I am Legend

Friday Discussion - Animal Farm, Brave New World

Everyone then had the rest of the period to begin working on their reading and groundwork for their novel. I was on hand to check in with people and help them with their work.

Handouts:

• Work Schedule - Thursday Discussion
• Work Schedule - Friday Discussion

Resources:

• Literature Circles
• Introduction to Lit Circles
• Work Schedule - Thursday Discussion
• Work Schedule - Friday Discussion
• Analyst
• Analyst: Role Overview
• Analyst Worksheet
• Facilitator
• Facilitator: Role Overview
• Facilitator: Worksheet
• Linguist
• Linguist: Role Overview
• Linguist: Worksheet
• Resources for Linguists
• Researcher
• Researcher: Role Overview
• Researcher: Worksheet
• Resources for Researchers

Work Submitted: 

- - -

Homework:

Reading and groundwork for your lit circle novel as fits your role and schedule for the week.

See: Work Schedule - Thursday Discussion OR Work Schedule - Friday Discussion

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)