*Please note:  
Due to the student-led discussion format of this class, the smallest size that will work well is 4 students.  I will cancel the class if fewer than 4 students enroll.  Invite your friends!  That said, the class will not work well with more than 8 students.  I will keep a firm cap on the limit as well, in order for everyone to have the best possible educational experience.  

Q:  What Are Literature Circles?

A:  In literature circles, small groups of students gather together to discuss a piece of literature in depth. The discussion is guided by students' responses 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. Literature circles provide 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. Students reshape and add onto their understanding as they construct meaning with other readers. Finally, literature circles guide students to deeper understanding of what they read through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response.

This specific course is geared toward higher level thinking.  Each literature circle role is directly connected to the 11 elements of critical thinking: big ideas, rules, trends, patterns, language of the discipline, ethics, relationships over time, details, unanswered questions, across disciplines and multiple perspectives.  

Q:  What is this book about?

A:  Growing up in Alabama during the 1930s, six-year-old Scout Finch leads a fairly charmed life. Her dad, Atticus, is a kind single parent and a well-regarded attorney. Her older brother, Jem, and their lively, offbeat neighbor Dill are her best friends, and together they explore their sleepy hometown of Maycomb. Most of their time is spent observing (and making up stories about) their reclusive neighbor, Boo Radley.

But Scout's innocence is short-lived. A young African American man named Tom Robinson is unjustly accused of raping a white woman. And when Atticus takes on the man's case and defends him to the best of his ability, Maycomb's searing and deep-rooted prejudices boil over. Atticus is scorned, Tom is convicted (though clearly innocent), and Scout loses faith in the community she trusted and loved. Can the young girl ever move past this incredible injustice?

A bold exploration of race, oppression, and morality, this book has been a must-read for generations thanks to its warm, witty, and approachable tone.

From: Scholastic.com

Q:  Is there any homework?  

A:  You will be asked to read approximately 45 pages per week and complete your "job" in order to be ready to present to the group each week.  

Q:  Am I going to be graded on this?  

A:  I will be taking notes each week on a rubric that allows me to assess your overall participation and the completion and depth of your assigned weekly role.  This can be shared with your parents upon request.