MRC HOMELiterature Circles Promote Love of Reading
Mrs. Carol Scheese's ninth grade student become "Book Critics!"
Art Across the Curriculum Action Grant
In the Spring of 2004, several teachers at Sparta High School applied for and were awarded the district's technology grant. Their winning proposal designed learning activities aimed at using technology to integrate the visual arts across the curriculum.
PARTICIPATING TEACHERS
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Mrs. Daria Koester -Art Department
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Mrs. Mary Ann Hyland - Educational Media Specialist
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Mrs. Carol Scheese - Language Arts Department
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Mrs. Lynne Goodwin - Language Arts Department
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Ms. Dee Peselli - Language Arts Department
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Mrs. Margaret Incantalupo - Mathematics Department
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Mrs. Angela Tryzinski - Science Department
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Mr. Craig Merrill - Social Studies Department
Literature Circles - The Language Arts Connection to Art Across the Curriculum
What Are Literature Circles?
Literature circles are small, temporary discussion groups of students who have chosen to read the same story, poem, article, or book. While reading (either inside or outside of class), each member prepares to take specific responsibilities in the upcoming discussion, and everyone comes to the group with the notes needed to help perform that job. The "circles" have regular meetings, with discussion roles rotating each session. When they finish a book, the circle members plan a way to share highlights of their reading with the wider community; then they move into a new cycle. Once readers can successfully conduct their own wide-ranging, self-sustaining discussions, formal discussion roles may be dropped.- - From Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in the Student-Centered Classroom by Harvey Daniels
How are Literature Circles structured?
Not all circles function in the same way, but, generally, students are assigned specific roles within the circle for each discussion session.
Required Roles - Discussion Director, Literary Luminary, Connector, Illustrator.
Optional Roles - Researcher, Character Captain, Summarizer, Scene Setter.
Who participated in the Literature Circles?
Mrs. Scheese's ninth grade classes formed Literature Circles during the 2004 Fall semester.
What books were read and discussed?
Some classes read and discussed:
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Ghost Boy by Iain Lawrence
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The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants
by Ann Brashares
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Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
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Big Mouth Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
Others read and discussed:
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Bleachers by John Grisham
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How were the books selected?
Mrs. Scheese and Mrs. Hyland worked together to select books that had a high interest level for young adults, but, were also at an appropriate reading level for ninth grade honors students. After attending a Berg Seminar entitled on "Best Books for Young Adults", they read reviews of titles that were highly recommended at the seminar, and then read the titles that they considered to be the best for Mrs. Scheese's classes. Out of these they choose titles that appealed to a wide variety of interests.
What was the connection to art and technology?
Mrs. Scheese introduced the Literature Circles Unit as a problem-based learning assignment. She explained that Mrs. Hyland was designing a new web page for the Media Resource Center (MRC) . She planned to add a YA book review column featuring reviews written by students of recommended YA titles. She asked Mrs. Scheese if her classes could write these reviews The students were asked to create powerpoint presentations that incorporated artistic elements, especially the use of color and graphic design. They would present their reviews to their class using the multimedia presentation system in the MRC. These powerpoint presentations would, then, be posted on the MRC's web page.
PARTICIPATING TEACHERS
Mrs. Daria Koester -Art Department
Mrs. Mary Ann Hyland - Educational Media Specialist
Mrs. Carol Scheese - Language Arts Department
Mrs. Lynne Goodwin - Language Arts Department
Ms. Dee Peselli - Language Arts Department
Mrs. Margaret Incantalupo - Mathematics Department
Mrs. Angela Tryzinski - Science Department
Mr. Craig Merrill - Social Studies Department
Literature Circles - The Language Arts Connection to Art Across the Curriculum
What Are Literature Circles?
Literature circles are small, temporary discussion groups of students who have chosen to read the same story, poem, article, or book. While reading (either inside or outside of class), each member prepares to take specific responsibilities in the upcoming discussion, and everyone comes to the group with the notes needed to help perform that job. The "circles" have regular meetings, with discussion roles rotating each session. When they finish a book, the circle members plan a way to share highlights of their reading with the wider community; then they move into a new cycle. Once readers can successfully conduct their own wide-ranging, self-sustaining discussions, formal discussion roles may be dropped.- - From Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in the Student-Centered Classroom by Harvey Daniels
How are Literature Circles structured?
Not all circles function in the same way, but, generally, students are assigned specific roles within the circle for each discussion session.
Required Roles - Discussion Director, Literary Luminary, Connector, Illustrator.
Optional Roles - Researcher, Character Captain, Summarizer, Scene Setter.
Who participated in the Literature Circles?
Mrs. Scheese's ninth grade classes formed Literature Circles during the 2004 Fall semester.
What books were read and discussed?
-
Ghost Boy by Iain Lawrence
-
The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pantsby Ann Brashares
-
Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
-
Big Mouth Ugly Girl by Joyce Carol Oates
Some classes read and discussed:
-
Bleachers by John Grisham
Others read and discussed:
How were the books selected?
Mrs. Scheese and Mrs. Hyland worked together to select books that had a high interest level for young adults, but, were also at an appropriate reading level for ninth grade honors students. After attending a Berg Seminar entitled on "Best Books for Young Adults", they read reviews of titles that were highly recommended at the seminar, and then read the titles that they considered to be the best for Mrs. Scheese's classes. Out of these they choose titles that appealed to a wide variety of interests.
What was the connection to art and technology?
Mrs. Scheese introduced the Literature Circles Unit as a problem-based learning assignment. She explained that Mrs. Hyland was designing a new web page for the Media Resource Center (MRC) . She planned to add a YA book review column featuring reviews written by students of recommended YA titles. She asked Mrs. Scheese if her classes could write these reviews The students were asked to create powerpoint presentations that incorporated artistic elements, especially the use of color and graphic design. They would present their reviews to their class using the multimedia presentation system in the MRC. These powerpoint presentations would, then, be posted on the MRC's web page.
View the Secret Life of BeesPowerpoint
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