Reading Circles
I have started "Reading Circles" with my students! This is a classroom instructional strategy that allows small groups of students to get together and connects all aspects of literacy with each other. I have them leveled by reading ability! All low level students are grouped together so that they can receive teacher support and guidance with the reading and comprehension questions/activities and my higher leveled students are independently monitoring their own group work.
I have 5 different levels set up for my reading circles! I printed off some Raz-Kids leveled readers and worksheets which focus on:
Reading Strategies, Comprehension, Phonics, Grammar and Mechanics, and Word Work (antonyms, rhyming words, vocabulary, etc).
They each group will then have Discussion cards and a Comprehension quiz to complete for each book they read.
I will then have one student from each level come together in a Literature Circle to share and inform the other members on the book and tasks they've just completed.
In literature circles, small groups of students gather together to discuss a piece of literature in depth. The discussion is guided by students' response to what they have read. You may hear talk about events and characters in the book, the author's craft, or personal experiences related to the story.
This type of activity provides a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. Collaboration is at the heart of this approach!!!
