Reflection: Relevance Literature Circles: Examining Discussion Questions - Section 1: Presenting the Day's Small Group Task
One of my favorite group activities revolves around "reaching a consensus." This is so much easier said than done! When I tell a group of sixth graders, they must reach a consensus, nine times out of ten I'll get the question: Does that mean everyone has to agree? I pause... yikes, I respond. Yes, that is the goal. But is that always possible? Not always... we try to have everyone agree, but sometimes that means someone will have to compromise.

Literature Circles: Examining Discussion Questions
Lesson 6 of 17
Objective: SWBAT meet in small groups to discuss the next portion of their novel.
Big Idea: Why are we all asking the same questions? Students examine they're self generated discussion questions and decide upon commonalities.
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See the previous day's lesson to see the general format and insight on discussion groups.
Before kids return to their small group literature circles, I present the task. In the Discussion Boxes that kids worked on the day prior, there is a section entitled: TBA. The TBA is announced today.
TBA
Today in groups, your TBA is to compare all of your discussion questions:
Is there one question that all (or almost all) students in your small group are asking? Find a version of that question and write it on the lines in the TBA section.
Your task:
Decide why everyone is wondering the same thing and respond to the question after the discussion.
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For the literature circles I kept a similar format from the previous day's lesson. The only change I made was that the final task can be completed directly on the discussion box.
- Discuss terms you didn't know. See if you can figure them out using only context. (Other words around them). Write in definitions.
- STAR your two best discussion questions. Everyone will read two. If you find that someone else in your group has asked a similar question, try to choose a new one of your questions to present. EVERYONE must weigh in for each question.
- Complete the TBA activity written on the board.
Here is a literature circle group, using the novel A Little Piece of Ground, and coming to a consensus on a "common discussion question."
Students Discussing in a Small Group: Which question did you all have in common?
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Read Aloud: "Iqbal"
Today, I continue our read aloud Iqbal. The novel is short and sweet; I find in a perfect length for a chapter a day. Today, I read chapter two. Kids listen as I read aloud; we will be using the novel more later in the unit when I begin to model some of the signposts from Kyleen Beer's instructional book, Notice & Note.
For now, my goal is to simply get kids hooked on the story.
Read more about why I chose this novel in this lesson: Lets Prepare for Literature Circles.
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Finally, we branch into independent work time for the next group meeting. I pass out the Discussion Boxes, Set 3, and kids begin working to complete their reading and boxes for the next group meeting.
I make sure to give students ample time for independent work. I can confer with students during this time about their reading, making sure they're keeping up with their group. I often get a sense from literature circles who isn't keeping up; they tend to be quieter and more reserved, hanging back and letting others discuss.
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- UNIT 1: Reader's & Writer's Workshop: The Launch
- UNIT 2: My story, my memory, Memoir
- UNIT 3: Pick a Side! Prove Your Point!
- UNIT 4: Poetry Madness!
- UNIT 5: Extra, Extra, Read all about it!
- UNIT 6: Multicultural Literature Circles
- UNIT 7: Brain Power! Non-Fiction Study of the Human Brain
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- UNIT 9: Special Days (Holidays & In Between Formal Units)
- UNIT 10: Overcoming Obstacles
- LESSON 1: Building Backgrond Knowledge: Asia & The Middle East Jigsaw
- LESSON 2: Choosing a Text for the Unit: Book Talks
- LESSON 3: Getting Started: Calendar & Schedule
- LESSON 4: Lets Prepare for Literature Circles
- LESSON 5: First Day of Lit Circles!
- LESSON 6: Literature Circles: Examining Discussion Questions
- LESSON 7: Literature Circle Prep Work Day
- LESSON 8: Literature Circles: How does setting affect the conflict?
- LESSON 9: Contrast & Contradiction
- LESSON 10: Contrast & Contradiction In Practice
- LESSON 11: Halfway Point Check-In
- LESSON 12: Literature Circles: Shhh... This Conversation is Silent
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- LESSON 17: Final Literature Circle Day!