Literature Circles or Book Clubs Overview
What are Literature Circles or Book Clubs?
Literature Circles (aka Book Clubs) are small groups that meet to discuss quality literature and apply comprehension strategies. Students independently read an agreed-upon portion of the text before each literature circle meeting, and come prepared to discuss the text and their thinking with their peers. The process is similar to that of an adult reader’s book club—it cultivates a deep appreciation for literature and builds academic vocabulary while also enhancing understanding of the text through rich, literary discourse.
Interactive Read Aloud and reading partnerships during Readers’ Workshop provide many opportunities for students to practice thoughtful literary response and conversational skills. When students meet with peers in Literature Circles, they will use many of these same strategies for thinking, talking, listening, citing evidence, and growing conversations. When Literature Circles are new, the teacher often sits into model and scaffold conversational moves. Ultimately, the goal is for students to do all this on their own, with little or no teacher support.