Best Practice Reading Strategies: Literature Circles is designed to assist teachers in developing, facilitating, and assessing Literature Circles in K-12 classrooms. The application of Literature Circles can span a wide spectrum of content areas, and can be easily hybridized to fit each individual teacher’s needs or desires. The goal is to help teachers foster student-led book clubs and discussions in their own classrooms that are based on student interest and choice. These peer-led book discussion groups can also help motivate students to read, learn, and collaborate with one another.

At the completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Identify the essential components of genuine, peer-led discussion groups. INTASC Standards 4, 7
• Engage mini-lessons that encourage productivity and literary understanding. INTASC Standards 1, 4, 7
• Establish scheduling patterns for student-led book club meetings and reading time. INTASC Standards 3, 4, 7
• Design and adapt assessments and grading procedures of Literature Circles. INTASC Standards 1, 2, 6
• Understand and implement student-led book clubs throughout multiple grade levels. INTASC Standards 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8
• Identify extension projects for individuals or groups based on student interests and abilities. INTASC Standards 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9