Web Links

Children's Literature Resources http://classes.seattleu.edu/education/litc521/schlicknoe/resources.html
Links to a large number of sites for book lists, book reviews, and instruction with children's literature. Developed by Katherine L. Schlick Noe, Ph.D. of Seattle University.

Discussion Groups/Literature Circles:  http://www.mcps.k12.md.us/curriculum/english/elg_lit_circles.htm
Guidelines from the Montgomery County (Maryland) Public Schools.

Laura Candler's Literary Lessons:  http://home.att.net/%7Eteaching/litcircles.htm
4th/5th grade teacher Laura Candler has developed this extensive and useful site describing how she uses literature circles in her intermediate classroom.  She includes many forms and guidelines that you can download, as well as book suggestions for intermediate students.

Literacy Matters http://www.literacymatters.org/teachers/index.htm
Well-organized, highly informative collection of resources for middle school and high school teachers by the Educational Development Center, Newton, MA. The site includes many resources related to literature circles. The easiest way to find them all is to enter "literature circles" in the Search engine.
• Example: "Response Strategies Using Discussion" http://www.literacymatters.org/adlit/response/discussion.htm

LiteratureCircles.com http://www.literaturecircles.com/
Based on Harvey Daniels' Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs and Reading Groups (2001). York, ME: Stenhouse.

Literature Circles Extension Projects http://comsewogue.org/~ssilverman/litcircles/index.htm
Susan Silverman's collaborative Internet project showcases Literature Circle Extension Projects created by students of all ages.  It's an opportunity for students to create for an authentic audience and for educators to view best practices. Susan, a retired teacher from Comsewogue School District, works as an independent educational consultant and adjunct professor at the New York Institute of Technology.

Literature Learning Ladders: http://eduscapes.com/ladders/
In-depth site developed by Dr. Annette Lamb and Dr. Larry Johnson of Eduscape, a professional development organization for teachers. The site contains links for themed literature units and literature circles http://www.eduscapes.com/ladders/themes/

Read-Write-Think http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/index.asp
Developed in partnership between the International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English, this is an exceptionally rich resource for lesson plans and materials on a broad range of literacy topics. To find resources specific to literature circles, type "literature circle" (or "literature circles") and then specify "Exact phrase" in the Search engine.
• Example lesson: "Literature Circles: Getting Started" http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=19

Shaun Else's Literature Circles Web Site: http://mag.hdsb.ca/litcirc/litcirchome.htm
Shaun Else, a grade 5 teacher at Maple Grove Primary School in Oakville, Ontario has developed a wonderful web site on literature circles for his students, their families, and other teachers.

Themed Literature Units   http://fac-staff.seattleu.edu/kschlnoe/TLU/TLU.html
Developed by Katherine L. Schlick Noe, Ph.D. of Seattle University. Book units organized by theme and grade level.
• Examples of themed units (Gr. K-8): http://fac-staff.seattleu.edu/kschlnoe/MITexample.html
• Developing students' understanding of theme (Gr. K-12):
http://fac-staff.seattleu.edu/kschlnoe/TLU/process.html

 

Professional Books

Getting Started with Literature Circles by Katherine L. Schlick Noe and Nancy J. Johnson (1999, Christopher-Gordon)

Literature Circles and Response edited by Bonnie Campbell Hill, Nancy J. Johnosn, and Katherine L. Schlick Noe (1995, Christopher-Gordon)

Literature Circles in Middle School: One Teacher's Journey by Bonnie Campbell Hill, Katherine L. Schlick Noe, and Janine A. King (2003, Christopher-Gordon)

Literature Circles Resource Guide by Bonnie Campbell Hill, Katherine L. Schlick Noe and Nancy J. Johnson (2001, Christopher-Gordon).

Literature Study Circles in a Multicultural Classroom by Katharine Davies Samway and Gail Whang (1995, Stenhouse).

Literature Circles: Voice and Choice in Book Clubs and Reading Groups, 2nd ed., by Harvey Daniels (2001, Stenhouse).

Mini-lessons for Literature Circles by Harvey Daniels and Nancy Steineke (2004, Heinemann).

Vision & Voice: Extending the Literacy Spectrum by Linda Rief (1998, Heinemann).

You Gotta BE the Book: Teaching Engaged and Reflective Reading with Adolescents by Jeffrey Wilhelm (1996, Teachers College Press).