Responding+to+Literature+09

There are many things that teachers can do to spice up the classic idea of literature circles. "Performance-oriented projects" tend to be more valuable than static projects like dioramas after reading a book. These performance-based projects like found poetry, talk shows, and others allow students to express their views on literature in a more engaging and exciting way. These activities might encourage more participation among students. Written conversation is an example of a more engaging form of literature circles. Students are divided into small groups and write their views on a sheet of paper and pass that around the circle and respond to their group mates' responses. Each student gets to have their say and they pay attention to what their group mates are saying.--From Harvey Daniels' "What's the Next Big Thing with Literature Circles?"~Amanda Aird
 * How can teachers avoid falling into lecture format or monotony when implementing literature circles that sets up the important factor of student to student discussion?**

Even after being adopted from the initial basic model, literature circles work around the world because they cause students to feel engaged in what is being discussed, they have personal choice over what they are reading, they have responsibility for the direction of the group's discussion, and we have scientific proof that literature circles lead to higher achievement in reading and writing ("What's the Next Big Thing with Literature Circles?, Harvey Daniels). --L. Baker Literature circles can provide students with choice when they get to pick their own book to read, and have a group of friends to read it with- this freedom of choice produces a sense of accomplishment and excitement towards reading. Literature circles also provide the students with a sense of responsiblity since they are in charge of thier discussion, and responsible for thier role within the literature circle. (Daniels 11)
 * Why do literature circles work?**