How to Use the Literature Circle in AP® Literature

Somehow, a literature circle is not what I envision in AP® Literature classes. I think of classes where everyone is reading the same (classic) text and they are sitting in circles pontificating on said classic.

And yet, I often use literature circles 2-3 times a year. And, in the year 2023, my AP® students generally go for depth over breadth, as a result, we are only reading 3-4 full length works a year. That means most of them are done book club style.

Do More with a Hybrid Literature Circle

In recent years, my strategy has been to use a hybrid literature circle. This type of literature circle combines student choice novels with either a short story unit or a poetry unit. The work that students do with their literature circle books is grounded in the work that we do together in the shorter texts.

Using a hybrid-style literature circle unit allows us to really hone in on the skills that are the focus of the unit.

I started this during the hybrid learning year. Students read chapters from How to Read Literature Like a Professor alongside choice reading for book clubs. In class, we discussed the chapters from the Professor with short stories that tied the themes together. We called it Reading Like a Professor Book Clubs.

Theme-based Hybrid Literature Circles

Since I believe in the power of student voice in English classes, not only are students determining the books they will read in a literature circle. They are also determining our theme.

Using forms, I give students the option of a few theme ideas and then I structure our unit around the skills they should have at that point in the year and an essential question based on the theme.

For example, in the fall, students chose the theme of innocence and experience.

The essential question for this unit is “To what extent is the loss of innocence inevitable?”

They selected full length works for a literature circle that will focus on characterization, conflict, setting and narrative structure. The skill lessons will come from these Coming of Age Stories.

Ditch literature circle roles in AP® Literature Circles.

Ditch the Literature Circle Roles

Long ago, I stopped using literature circle roles with my upper level high school students. We instead focus on group activities related to the skill focus of the week. These activities may be a repeat of the way we approached the shorter text earlier in the week, or they may come from the Book Club Discussion Deck.

Literature Discussion Roles just don’t seem to work for more mature students who have a deeper understanding of close reading.

Start a Hybrid Literature Circle

If you are interested in starting hybrid literature circles, you can grab my theme based coming of age hybrid book club unit for free. You will get the unit outline, an editable calendar, a unit hook and short story lessons.