WELCOME TO YOUR LITERATURE CIRCLE!

Over the next few weeks, we’ll be exploring the book Frindle by Andrew Clements.

Here’s the fun part: YOU WILL BE IN CHARGE!

In a Literature Circle, the people reading the story lead the discussion, not the teacher. I’ll help make sure things run smoothly, but YOU will decide what to talk about!

There are 5 different roles in a Literature Circle: • Artful Artist • Discussion Director • Literary Luminary • Colorful Connector • Word Wizard

You can read all about how these roles work in the pages below.

Here’s how to prepare for your Literature Circle each week:

• Read the assigned chapters. You might choose to read alone, with Mom or Dad, with a friend, or listen to an audio version.

• Pick one role you’d like to take on for the week. • More than one person can have the same role! • The only rule is you must try a different role

each week. • Follow the directions for your role.

• Come to the weekly discussion ready to lead your part!

Copyright Nicole Olson 2017

ARTFUL ARTIST Use art to show a part of the story.

It could be: • a part you liked • a part you didn’t like • a part that surprised you • the ending • the characters • a place from the story

OR… • anything else you want to show!

You could create: • a picture or painting • a diorama • a puppet • a clay piece

OR… • anything else you want to make!

Show your artwork to the group and give them a chance to talk about it and make guesses. Then you can tell about it.

Copyright Nicole Olson 2017

Discussion Director

Get the group to think about the story.

Use questions from the list* below, or come up with your own

• What if…? • Why did…? • How did…? • What would happen if…? • What caused… • How would you feel if…? • What character traits describe _____? • What would you do if…?

You do NOT need to ask a million questions! Pick 2 or 3 questions that you think will get the best discussion going.

Make sure you have ideas to share about the questions you pick!

*questions courtesy of lauracandler.com

Copyright Nicole Olson 2017

Literary Luminary

Pick out a part of the story you want to share.

It could be: • interesting • very important • fun to read • scary! • weird

OR… • anything else!

Mark the passage with a sticky note so you can find it later.

During your group discussion, you can read it out loud yourself or ask for a volunteer to read it.

Be sure to tell WHY you picked it!

Copyright Nicole Olson 2017

Colorful Connector Share a connection you felt with the story.

Choose something from the story that reminds you of: • something that has happened in your own life • other people or problems • another story • a movie you’ve seen

OR… • anything else!

When you tell your group about what you chose, you might start with phrases like: • I remember when… • This reminds me of… • I read another book where… • I saw a movie that… • This is different from… • This is the same as…

Copyright Nicole Olson 2017

Word Wizard Thinking about words

Find words in the story that are: • new to you • interesting • strange • silly • fancy

Use a sticky note to mark the page with the word so you can find it later.

During your group discussion: • tell what the word is • read the sentence with the word • make sure everyone knows what it means

Be sure to tell WHY you picked it!

Copyright Nicole Olson 2017