Literature Circles

As with doing most things for the first time, I was a little apprehensive going into this lesson. For the most part the literature circle went well. I presented the folktale lesson to my 4th grade class. I chose folktales from China, Mali, and the Tlingit Indians of Alaska. The students really enjoyed the books and completing the pre-reading, during reading, and post reading activities. The discussions were great. The students were not shy about responding to the discussion questions, especially those that dealt with them being the main characters and what they would have done differently. They are still asking when will we do it again.

The literature circle required more time than I had allotted for, but other than that things went smoothly. Because I now know how much time is needed for the various sections of the lesson, I will change the amount of time I give to complete the lesson. Other than that, there is not anything else I would change at this juncture; however I am looking forward to using it with my older students.

I think this technique is appropriate for second language learners as long as the appropriate literature is used for the language learners. I would suggest that other ESL professionals who are considering implementing literature circles choose literature that will engage students, foster meaningful discussions, and offer content area knowledge.