Literature Circles

Offers information about Book Clubs and Literature Circles and how to implement them. Includes links to additional pages with free resources.

Imagine your students clustered into small groups around your room, excitedly discussing the books they're reading. As you move from group to group, you see them smiling, nodding, actively engaged. You don't have to wonder if they're reading - you know they're reading! They're pointing to pages in their books, defending their opinions, making predictions, and sharing their favorite parts. How could they NOT be reading?

Running a successful Literature Circles program requires excellent classroom management skills. Proper planning and keeping parents informed are your keys to success! For more information on managing Literature Circles, check out my slidecast presentation on Classroom Book Clubs. You can view the introduction by clicking the video or by visiting the Classroom Book Clubs page for more information.

Classroom Book Clubs are an easy and effective form of Literature Circles. This program doesn't require students to have roles, and it doesn't bog them down with meaningless assignment. In this short video, Laura Candler shares 7 steps for a successful Classroom Book Clubs experience.

Worried about meeting Common Core State Standards? Using Classroom Book Clubs will help you meet the majority of the CCSS for Speaking and Listening! Download the CCSS reference on the right to see exactly which standards are met by Literature Circles and Book Clubs.

The Getting Started with Literature Circles School Site License includes the three products below in one zip file. These files can be uploaded to a school server and shared by the entire staff. Please preview each product from its page.

Note-taking outlines of the slides

Literature Circles Made Easy

Classroom Book Clubs: Literature Circles Made Easy (Single Classroom License) is a slidecast video series plus printables package that describes a fun and effective method for using Literature Circles in your classroom, a method that does not involve Literature Circle roles. I created this step-by-step set of videos to explain exactly what to do, and the package includes all the printables you'll need to make it work in your classroom. You'll even find an optional Think & Apply Study Guide to help you get the most out of the program! The videos in this program are Mp4 files so you can view them on mobile devices or a computer. After you purchase the program, you'll receive directions about where to go to download the video files and PDF files. The slidecast videos were designed for teachers and are not intended for student viewing. The program provides instruction for the teacher about how to set up and run Classroom Book Clubs.