Literature Circle #4

BLK-RUDE-KVENVOLD
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Objectives
Benchmark: 4.8.1.1. Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups,
and teacher led) with diverse partners on grade 4 topics and texts, building on others ideas and
expressing their own clearly.
a. Come to discussions prepared, having read or studied required material; explicitly draw on
that preparation and other information known about the topic to explore ideas under
discussion.
b. Follow agreed-upon riles for discussions and carry out assigned roles.
c. Pose and respond to specific questions to clarify or follow up on information, and make
comments that contribute to the discussion and link to the remarks of others.
d. Review the key ideas expressed and explain their own ideas and understanding in the light
of the discussion.
e. Cooperate and problem solve as appropriate for productive group discussion.

Content Object:
The student will be able to engage discussion while following the discussion guidelines.
The student will be able to carry out the roles that have been introduced.
Materials

Goals Written out on Whiteboard/Anchor chart

Anchor Chart: Discussion Guidelines
Recorder Role Sheet
Discussion Director Role Sheet
Character Map
The Borrowers by Mary Norton
Lit Circle Meeting Rubric/Evaluation Sheet
Journal- Homework Page
Vocabulary Finder Role Sheet
Literature Circle Guide

Instruction
1.
2.

Gather students and find a quiet spot to sit (on the carpet next to the white board) and remind them to
bring a pencil, their name tag, and a clipboard if needed.
T:Good afternoon fourth grade friends. We are going to get started just as we did last time for our
literature circle. I have written a few of the goals that we had discussed on Tuesday. Lets whisper read
them together to remember them.
Todays Goals:
1.
2.
3.

3.

4.

5.

6.
7.
8.

Read next two chapters

Discussion- Use stickers and go around answering
discussion prompts.
Time for filling out roles.

T: Today we are going to get started by reading right away so that we have more time for discussion on
our book and discussion on what will happen next. Make sure you take the time to read the next two
chapters. I want you making sure that you read slowly, and think about what type of connections that you
can make. Remember to use the post it notes to mark spots that you would like to talk about. If you are
one of the Discussion Director Roles- Make sure you write at least two things down you would like to talk
about or ask.
If students finish early make sure they finish their role, and if they do ask them to write a paragraph about
how you think the book is going to end and why you think that? Then also, ask them to find evidence in
the text on how they are similar or different to a certain character. Remind them to use quotes and write
down page numbers.
T: Okay friends we are going to stop reading at that point and mark with a post it note where you are in
the reading. Before I ask the Discussion Directors to take over I want to remind everyone to follow the
guidelines. And whenever we are not reading you must be sitting up right with criss-cross-applesauce and
looking at the person speaking so everyone knows you are listening. Today, we are going to do something
a bit different so that everyone makes sure they are sharing. Every time you talk I want you to put a
tally/sticker on the post-it note in front of you. You can do no more than five to start. To get started I want
us to go around and share out the following discussion prompt:
____________________________________________________________________________ (20 minutes)
T:Okay friends we are going to wrap up our conversation because I noticed we have 15 minutes left of lit
circle time.
T: Would are two Character map roles please take the time to work together in adding any more
characters or information and then our recorder will need to fill out his/her part as well during this time.
T:Alright friends as we end our session I have made up a sheet that I will hope help you when holding your
own literature circles. Lets read it through together, and see if you have any questions. (read Literature
Circle Guide)--- All sheets have been laminated so that they can be kept nice for the children to keep in
their lit circle bags.

Evaluation
Evaluation will take place in two different forms, the first is the students Journal Homework that they will
turn in next circle time. The next form is a combination of the Recorder Sheet (since the teacher is filling it out this
time) and the Lit Circle Meeting Rubric/Evaluation form (that the teacher fills out after the discussion has finished).

*Your job is to fill out this sheet at the end of discussion during literature circle. Please be honest in all of
your answers.
Recorder Name: _______________________________________________ Date: ___________________
Book Title:____________________________________________________________________________
Pages: ______________
Name

Is
Present

Has book,
nametag,
and
pencil

Participated
in
Discussion

Sat up,
Listened,
Looked
at the
Speaker

Followed
Discussion
Guidelines

Role Duty:
(Write Role)

Finished Role
Duty

What are some things that your group discussed today?

_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________________________________
What is one thing that your group did well on today?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
What is one thing that your group could work harder on?
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Discussion Director Name:_____________________________________________Date:______________

Book Title:____________________________________________________________________________
Pages:______________
*Your job is to create questions that can be used during literature circle discussion. While reading
todays section write down questions that can be used. Remember to use questions or topics that makes
someone think and that you cannot actually find the answer in the book. Like questions such as: What
if, Why did?...How would you feel?... Maybe you dont actually have a question, but is there are part in
the book that confused your or that you wonder about?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

A question you can ask at the very end of your discussion time if there is enough time:
What do you predict next?

*Your job is to also keep the discussion on topic and make sure that all members are participating and
following the Discussion Guidelines. Make sure each member answers your questions or talk about the
section you would like to discuss.

*This journal is to be completed as homework and turned in at the beginning of the next literature circle
session on __________.
Name: ______________________________Book Title:_______________________________________
1.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3.
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. List all of the characters that were introduced during the last reading section:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

LITERATURE CIRCLE GUIDE

1. Decide on Goals for the Literature Circle Time:

What you want to work on

How many pages you will read during lit circle time

2. Hand out Literature Circle Roles:

Discussion Director- person to comes up with the first few questions, ideas, or
something they wish to talk about.
Character Map- person who fills out a character map on any characters that have
been added to the story and a description of the characters.
Recorder Role- person who fills out if the jobs are being done.
Vocabulary Role- This is a new role! Have this person start a journal with words
that anyone from the group did not understand, then take the time to look it up in
a dictionary as a group.

3. Read set amount of pages during Literature Circle Time (20 minutes)- remember to
take notes if you are the Discussion Director. Everyone should use post-it notes to mark
places they want to also talk about or ask questions.
4. Bring everyone back together in a circle. Everyone should be sitting in a circle and
looking at each other. First have the Discussion Director and the Vocabulary Roles talk
about what they found or want to speak about. If they do not have anything, then use
the Discussion Prompts given and have everyone go around the circle to speak about
them. Remember to be respectful of the person speaking. If you would like to add to
what that person is say raise your hand, tell them that you agree/disagree and why.

Vocab Finder Name:_____________________________________________Date:______________

Book Title:____________________________________________________________________________
Pages:______________
*Your job is to write down words that you or members in your group did not understand during the
reading. Ask during discussion time if anyone else in the group knows the meaning of the words. If they
do then write it down so that you can look back at any time! If no one in your group knows the word,
then use a dictionary to find a good definition.

Word:_________________________________________________________________________
Definition:______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Word:_________________________________________________________________________
Definition:______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Word:_________________________________________________________________________
Defintion:______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

Word:_________________________________________________________________________
Definition:______________________________________________________________________

Word:_________________________________________________________________________
Definition:______________________________________________________________________
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