Agreements for Lit Circles:
Objectives:
Read and discuss your group’s text and answer the following EQs by the end of the unit:
○ How can you sustain a creative, collaborative lit circle and learn more in lit
circle than you would on your own or when directed by a teacher?
○ How has your text contributed to the world of ideas both historically and in
the present moment? How do you know?
Performance tasks: exhibit both formatively and summatively the above
objectives.
- Notetaking and synthesizing your Lit Circle discussions on Reading Wings blog
- You demonstrate that you can answer the big EQs in a creative original performance of your own design.
Respect and Responsibility as collaborators
● meet deadlines
● split up the work (not the reading) in the form of roles for each member of the
group:
- Discussion Leader arrives in class with summary of reading and enough EQs (45) to sustain creative, rigorous discussion
- Literary Luminary and Elemental arrives in class with examples of literary gems: metaphors/figures of speech, structural elements of the novel (characterization, golden details, setting, etc...)
- Line Lighter (this role can be added to the above role if there are only 3 in your group) arrives with specific noteworthy quotes to discuss
- Check up arrives ready to answer EQs and take notes Checks up on group and addresses preparedness. Maintains group scheduling. Reports to teacher. Writes blog post
- Wordsmith and Reseacher arrives with definitions for confusing words/allusions. Researches book to help answer big EQ
● each participant has 5 min responsibility to speak in group each lit circle day
● every member actually reads the book on schedule
● be creative and original
● be rigorous with your critical thinking
● everyone must collaborate and contribute every lit circle day
● use what you say in discussion to link and expand/build discussion
● respect each member in the group by listening, acknowledging, reflecting before
speaking.
● maintain a tone of respect, rigor and focus
Objective:
Answer the following EQs by the end of the unit:
- How can you learn more in lit circle than you would on your own or when directed by a teacher?
- How has your text contributed to the world of ideas both historically and in the present moment?
Performance tasks:
- Notetaking and synthesizing your Lit Circle discussions on Reading Wings blog. Video of model lit circle discussion
- You demonstrate that you can answer the big EQs in a creative original performance of your own design.