Never cease to learn....

Some one finally asked what literature circles are (bless this person!). Here is what I know -
"small groups of students gather together to discuss a piece of literature in depth. The discussion is guided by students' response to what they have read. You may hear talk about events and characters in the book, the author's craft, or personal experiences related to the story. Literature circles provide a way for students to engage in critical thinking and reflection as they read, discuss, and respond to books. Collaboration is at the heart of this approach. Students reshape and add onto their understanding as they construct meaning with other readers. Finally, literature circles guide students to deeper understanding of what they read through structured discussion and extended written and artistic response".
*Reader response centered
*Structured for student independence, responsibility, and ownership
*Guided primarily by student insights and questions
*Intended as a context in which to applyreading and writing skills