Literature Circles are small groups of students who are reading, responding to and discussing the same book.  They provide the opportunity for students to have some control over their learning, because students usually choose their own materials.  The groups of students respond individually, then have open conversations about their book.  The groups are also in charge of determining how many pages are to be read each night.  The teacher is not part of the literature circle group, but serves as an outside observer. 

How to Set Up Literature Circles

Literature Circle Set-Up

Literature Circle Evaluation

Literature Circle Contract for Upper Grades

Literature Circle Contract for Young Readers

Literature Circle Contract for Beginning Readers

Nurturing Emergent Readers in Literature Circles

Literature Circle Extension Activities

Response Sheet

Response Log for Young Students

Websites on Literature Circles:

Literature Circles
http://www.literaturecircles.com/

Literature Circles Resource Center for Elementary and Middle School

http://www.litcircles.org/

Education World:  Literature Circles Build Excitement for Books!

http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr259.shtml

Virtual Circles: Using Technology to Enhance Literature Circles & Socratic Seminars

http://www.ncsu.edu/meridian/sum2003/circles/index.html

Video Explanation of Literature Circles

http://www.teachertube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=a8ce66358eb576b8912c

Literature Circles with Primary Students Using Self-Selected Reading

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=44

Tools for Literature Circles - PDF

http://www.abcteach.com/free/l/literaturecircle.pdf