Supporting Reading Comprehension

Among English Learners through

Literature Circles
Linda Borton
Fall 2016
Workshop Objectives:
+Introduction to Literature Circles and reasoning for how they are effective for ELs

+Provide a model for planning Literature Circles in your classroom

+Share examples of Literature Circles that connect with Grade Level Objectives

+Provide resources to support planning

What is a Literature Circle?
+ Literature Circles are a different approach
to a literature study (Short, et al, 1996;
Short and Klassen, 1994).

+ They allow more flexibility in text

discussion and student collaboration.

+ Instead of reading the same text student

groups have a text set topic and read a
variety of text from that topic.

+ Discussion and response started with the

topic or theme, but can grow deeper into
other skills or literary elements of the text
(Freeman & Freeman, 2000, p.102).
Text Set Ideas for our English Learners
+Texts by an author from their native country

+Cultural celebrations

+Family relationships and traditions

+Geography

+World History

+People who made a large impact on history

+The life cycle

+The solar system

Why try Literature Circles for ELs?
+Encourages students to meet in groups to discuss books they read that build on
verbal and listening skills.

+Students read different books that focus on the same topic so text can be
academically differentiated. ELs are able to be involved in discussion because they
are reading text a their level.

+Discussion focuses on the topic or theme and support repetition and connection of
vocabulary.

+Text sets can focus on cross-curricular topics.

(Freeman & Freeman, 2000, p.103)

Planning out your Literature Circle
+Things to take into consideration when planning out your literature circle:

-Time of day

-Grouping students

-Text Set Interests of students

-Cross curricular Text Sets

-Data driven goals for your English Language students

Planning out your Literature Circles
+Things to take into consideration when planning out your literature circle:

-Time of day
*Literature circles are are collaborative time
for students to group together.
*Using our 30 minute ELA workshop block time
can be an effective time for students to work
in their Literature Circle.
*This can be an effective time where students
understand their group expectations and you,
as the teacher, are able to facilitate once
expectations are set and clear.
Planning out your Literature Circles
+Things to take into consideration when planning out your Literature Circle:

-Grouping students
*Since Literature Circles allow students of
different achievement levels to collaborate,
this can be a great time to mix students up.
*With your classroom organize your students
in groups of 5 with at least one student that
is high performing, on grade level, low
performing and and English language learner.
Planning out your Literature Circles
+Things to take into consideration when planning out your literature circle:

-Text Set Interests of students

*Survey your students interests inside
and outside of school.
*Use common interests, especially responses
from your English Learners to find text set
topics for your Literature Circles.
*Surveying your students will allow you to
draw on your students background and their
Experiences (Freeman, 2002, p.16).
*Example Student Interest Survey
Planning out your Literature Circles
+Things to take into consideration when planning out your Literature Circle:

-Cross curricular Text Sets

*Review your Content Scope and Sequence and
see what grade level objectives for Math,
Science, and/or Social Students you can
reinforce in your Literature Circle.
*Text sets such as The Solar System, Plant
Seeds and Plant Growth, and U.S. Colonial
history are topics that fulfill grade level
objectives within the 3rd - 5th grade curriculum.
Planning out your Literature Circles
+Things to take into consideration when planning out your Literature Circle:

-Data driven goals for your English Language students

*Using you WIDA data, find areas where your

English Learners scored low in.
*Did students score low in listening, speaking,
writing, and/or reading comprehension?
*Based off student data plan and set goals for your
Circles to support growth in these areas.
Example: Literature Circles Connected to Grade Level Objectives

3rd Grade Objective:

MI.ST.4.11 Identify common objects in the sky, such as the Sun and
the Moon.
The moon is the closest object to Earth, and while many other objects
The moon appears prominent in the sky because it is so close to
Earth.
The sun is the closest star to Earth, and while many other stars are
larger, the sun appears prominent in the sky because it is so
close to Earth.
Text Set: Sun and Moon
Leveling texts using Reading A-Z Texts:
The Sun, Earth and Moon by David Drier (Level W - End of
4th Grade level))
Eclipses by David Drier (Level V - Mid 4th Grade level
The Sun by Ned Jensen (Level V - Mid 4th Grade)
Mystery in the Moonlight (Level U - Beginning of 4th Grade
Our Solar System (Level S - End of 3rd Grade)
Example Literature Circles Connected to Grade Level Objectives

3rd Grade Objective:

MI.ST.4.11 Identify common objects in the sky, such as the
Sun and the Moon.

Activities your Literature Circles can center

around:

+KWL
+Vocabulary
+Comprehension questions
+Writing prompts
Example Literature Circles Connected to Grade Level Objectives
3rd Grade Objective:
MI.ST.4.11 Identify common objects in the sky, such as the
Sun and the moon.
KWL:
+Student will discuss what they know about the Moon,
Sun, Earth and record them in their graphic organizers.
+Students share one item they know about the topic.
Workshop time for literature circle allow EL students
with a focus on listening and speaking can share
comfortably as they get acquainted with their group (Li &
Edwards, 2010, p.208).
+Students will verbalize questions they have on the
topics and record three questions they have on the topic.
+Students share at least one questions they have on the
topic.
+When students read their individual text they can
record what learnings they have and share when they are
meeting with their group.
Example Literature Circles Connected to Grade Level Objectives

3rd Grade Objective:

MI.ST.4.11 Identify common objects in the sky, such as the
Sun and the Moon.

Vocabulary:
+Students can use vocabulary graphic organizer to
record words found in the glossary of each text.
+Are there words your English learners can translate in
their native language? Give EL students an opportunity
to record and share.
+Students in groups discuss common vocabulary words.
+Students can record sentences where they see these
words and compare the usage of the word in their own
text.
+Students can create their own sentences using the
vocabulary words and share them with their Literature
Circle.
Example Literature Circles Connected to Grade Level Objectives

3rd Grade Objective:

MI.ST.4.11 Identify common objects in the sky, such as the
Sun and the Moon.

+Comprehension questions
+Provide you groups with questions that can promote
discussion.
+Leveling the texts should allow English Learners to
participate freely in answering questions and contributing
to the discussion (Freeman, 2000, p.103).
+Have students verbally discuss questions and also
record answers in notebooks.
+This could be a time to promote claims, evidence, and
reasoning in student thinking.
+Creating roles such as, facilitator and recorder, and
modeling discussion will be key for students to have an
effective discussion. Allow students to switch roles to
practice skills of verbalizing and responding to text.
Example Literature Circles Connected to Grade Level Objectives

3rd Grade Objective:

MI.ST.4.11 Identify common objects in the sky, such as the
Sun and the Moon.

Writing Prompts:
+Allow students to respond to thematic prompts
that can be fiction or nonfiction based.
+Example prompts:
Would you rather visit the Sun or Moon?
Describe at least three reason why you chose the
Sun or the Moon.
How is the Sun similar to the Moon? How are
they different? Describe at least two ways of how
they are similar and different.
Brainstorm/Planning
Meet with your grade level teams to discuss the following:
+Using Yearly Scopes and Sequences (pick Science or Social Studies objectives) can you think of some
Text Sets that you can create for Literature Circles?
+What are some positives you can see in creating Literature Circles for English Learner in your
classroom?
+What are some negatives you can see in creating Literature Circles for English Learner in your
classroom?
+What do you need to get started?

Try it out:
+Meeting with grade level teams create 2 Text Sets that you could utilize in your classroom.
+Search for texts that your could easily use in your Text Set (Utilize Reading A-Z Website).
+Write out expectations are roles you think are necessary for groups to function.
Resources for Planning
+www.mynha.com - to find Scopes and Sequences of other content level objectives

+www.myscholastic.com - reading interest surveys

+www.raz-plus.com/books/leveled-books/ - leveled, content specfic books, graphic

oraginers, comprehension questions

+www.readworks.com - leveled passages, comprehension questions

Questions?
Works Cited
Freeman, D. and Y. Freeman. 2000. Teaching Reading in Multilingual Classrooms.
Portsmouth, N.H: Heinemann.

Freeman, Y. S. and D. Freeman. 2002. Closing the Achievement Gap. Portsmouth,

N.H: Heinemann.

Li, G. and P. Edwards. 2010. Best Practices in ELL Instruction. New York, N.Y.:
The Guilford Press.