Mastering Literature Circle Activities

I am a bit of a PD nerd. I am quick to read all the books (check out this post on Best Books for English Teachers) and try new ideas. So back in the early 2000s, I jumped on the literature circle bandwagon. I loved the idea of giving students choices in their reading and giving them more autonomy in their learning. The only problem? Were they actually learning? Did literature circle activities actually build skills?

I ultimately came to the conclusion that they didn’t. So I ended up using them sparingly. Then the early 2020s happened. Students were not the same. Without choices they weren’t going to do the work. So, I had to figure out a way to give them those choices and still build the skills. This is where the Hybrid Literature Circle Framework comes into play.

Using this Framework, you can build skills while giving students the choice and autonomy they desire.

Help for high school English teachers hoping to improve literature circles activities in their classes.

Why Use Hybrid Literature Circle Activities?

The problem with traditional literature circles is that students have roles which may or may not require them to expand their learning. Students have roles like passage finder and word seeker. They are supposed to pull a passage that stands out. Or a vocabulary word they didn’t know. Unfortunately while the individual may gain some insights, these literature circle activities are not actually preparing them for high stakes tests like the AP Literature exam or the New York State Regents exam.

However, with a carefully curated framework of short texts, mini lessons and book club discussions, students can build skills while having the autonomy that literature circles can provide.

4-Step Framework for Designing Skill-Focused Literature Circle Activities

After years of honing, I have finally found a strategy for using book clubs in the upper levels of high school English without sacrificing the acquisition of new skills. (Grab the free framework workbook.)

Step 1: Begin with the End in Mind.

You have to know what your end goal is so that you can plan appropriate mini-lessons in your literature circle unit.

Step 2: Determine the Big Question and the Essential Skills

Find an essential question that can ground your unit and determine the skills that students need to meet the end goal.

A four step Framework for developing literature circle activities in high school English that continue to develop skills.

Step 3: Choose Texts Wisely

You will need to ground your literature circle activities in full length texts that match your essential question. (Think 3-8 novels or full length plays.) And, you will need 3-5 short texts that you also tie to the unit big question while matching the essential skills you intend the unit to address.

Step 4: Plan Your Calendar

Predictability is key. Plan a 3-4 week unit where each day of the week is the same. Determine a day for book club meetings, full class short texts and reading. Repeat this rhythm for the duration of your unit.

Accountability in Action: Ensuring Rigor in Your Literature Circle Activities

Even with this framework in place, you will still need to create accountability. One way to accomplish this is through group tasks that tie to the skills and the short works. Additionally, you can do this through exit tickets or other formative assessments. And my favorite way to check in with students during a book club unit is by joining their discussion groups for a few minutes each class.

Implementing Skills-based Literature Circles in Upper Levels of High School English

Skills-based, hybrid literature circles take some planning, but in the end, the joy of reading and the focus on building skills will be worth the implementation. Grab the Literature Circle Framework to help you plan your first hybrid literature circle unit.