Summary
Table of Contents

Literature circles are a way to engage students in reading by selecting texts to read and discuss with peers. Instead of traditional literature circle roles, use question stems as a way to spark discussion. These question stems build in the complexity of thinking required. Reflection questions are included for debriefing after the small group discussion.

Learning Goals

Students will read and discuss texts.

title "Literature Circle Discussion Questions" 2024 by Samantha Spezzano
under license"Creative Commons Attribution Share Alike"

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Cite this work

Literature Circle Discussion Questions

Created Jan. 24, 2024 by Samantha Spezzano

Use these literature circle question stems for small group discussions of books. When students complete the literature circle discussion, they reflect on their participation as well as provide feedback about their group members using these reflection questions. These question stems and reflection questions could also be used for a Socratic Seminar.

Modification for lower elementary school: Have students do a book club. You can write the question stems on sentence starters so that each student can have one in front of them in order to participate actively and productively in conversations.

Remixed from "Literature Circle Discussion Questions" by Lori Sutherland

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Subject:: English Language Arts
Level:: Upper Primary, Middle School, High School
Material Type:: Activity/Lab

Standards

NC.ELA.RL.6.10

North Carolina English Language Arts Standards

Grade 6

Learning Domain: Reading: Literature

Standard: By the end of grade 6, read and understand literature within the 6-8 text complexity band proficiently and independently for sustained periods of time. Connect prior knowledge and experiences to text.

Degree of Alignment: Not Rated (0 users)

NC.ELA.RL.7.10

North Carolina English Language Arts Standards

Grade 7

Learning Domain: Reading: Literature

Standard: By the end of grade 7, read and understand literature within the 6-8 text complexity band proficiently and independently for sustained periods of time. Connect prior knowledge and experiences to text.

Degree of Alignment: Not Rated (0 users)

NC.ELA.RL.8.10

North Carolina English Language Arts Standards

Grade 8

Learning Domain: Reading: Literature

Standard: By the end of grade 8, read and understand literature at the high end of the 6-8 text complexity band proficiently and independently for sustained periods of time. Connect prior knowledge and experiences to text.

Degree of Alignment: Not Rated (0 users)

NC.ELA.RL.9-10.10

North Carolina English Language Arts Standards

Grades 9-10

Learning Domain: Reading: Literature

Standard: By the end of grade 9, read and understand literature within the 9-10 text complexity band proficiently and independently for sustained periods of time. Connect prior knowledge and experiences to text. By the end of grade 10, read and understand literature at the high end of the 9-10 text complexity band proficiently and independently for sustained periods of time. Connect prior knowledge and experiences to text.

Degree of Alignment: Not Rated (0 users)

NC.ELA.SL.6.1

North Carolina English Language Arts Standards

Grade 6

Learning Domain: Speaking and Listening

Standard: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one on one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 6 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Degree of Alignment: Not Rated (0 users)

NC.ELA.SL.7.1

North Carolina English Language Arts Standards

Grade 7

Learning Domain: Speaking and Listening

Standard: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one on one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 7 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Degree of Alignment: Not Rated (0 users)

NC.ELA.SL.8.1

North Carolina English Language Arts Standards

Grade 8

Learning Domain: Speaking and Listening

Standard: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one on one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 8 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly.

Degree of Alignment: Not Rated (0 users)

NC.ELA.SL.9-10.1

North Carolina English Language Arts Standards

Grades 9-10

Learning Domain: Speaking and Listening

Standard: Initiate and participate effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grades 9--10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others' ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

Degree of Alignment: Not Rated (0 users)