January 12, 2012

In our classroom our reading groups are more of a book club, we call them literature discussion groups.  The students are asked to select from 4 different books the one they would most like to read. Here are some of the choices for this round:

 Before each meeting they are responsible for completing their assigned reading, and a thoughtful log response.  Contracts will be coming home with them today to expain their first job and what is expected of them. You will be asked to sign as well as all of them. 

In preparation for our discussions we have been delving deeper into what makes a successful discussion and literature response.  We have been reading books and writing our responses and then using them as a springboard for discussion.  Here are a few examples of anchor charts we have made, originally seen in Life in 4B another Dorn model school. ...

 This chart helps us to remember what is required in a successful log response.  The students have their own copy in their journal. 

We watched a literature discussion by two model teachers and sketched out the strenght of their ideas. You can see that in the strong model the ideas build on one another and begin to look like a constellation. 

Talk is the key to a successful literature discussion group!  We have been really working hard on making our conversations more meaningful.  I can honestly say that after this week of stregthening our responses and practicing purposeful talk we have made tremendous progress!!!