I taught 5/6 multiage and used lit circles before they were called that. I've always believed in doing them thematically and finding a range of good books to choose from so we have some common ground but so everyone can also find a fit. E.g. We did survival, for example, and choices ranged from My Side of the Mountain to Julie of the Wolves. Island of the Blue Dolphins was a choice even though 4th graders read it as a core book in the district - because it was just right for a reread for some kids who loved it and hadn't read it independently before. (I should note I would no longer use several of these choices being more familiar with well founded concerns re appropriateness of the Native American books). This was also pre pub Hatchet. (Gives away my age!) Let's see used The Cay and Slake's Limbo. You could also use survival in war which opens up a whole other range.
Anyway I did have a wide range of kids...don't we always? I would question the meaning of reading at level 50 except as a more or less estimate but it can't take into account variations in schema, interest and so on. Go to the book by Noe and Hill and Campbell (I believe) which is a resource for Lit Circles. Think christopher gordon is the publisher. It's filled with blackline master examples, rubrics etc. for doing lit circles - really great ones and lots of choices. But half the book is a literature resource with thematic suggestions for books ranging from easy picture books, picture books for older readers, easy chapter books, more challenging ones for each theme. I can vouch for many of their selections. It's a great great resource. They also have a book filled with chapters by different grade level teachers using lit circles - it's greattoo. Just not sure as many people know about their other resource. Sally On 4/23/08 9:17 PM, "HERBERT Suzanne" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > It would be great if there was some feedback on this. We are levelling 40 > percent of the books that we should be using in the classroom for reading. I > would assume that literature circles and silent reading, the children will > take their own choices. I teach fourth graders, and out of my 18 kids, 15 are > independent on DRA Level 50. So, I'm thinking, how essential is it to stick > to 'levelled books' if this is the case and why wouldn't you just encourage > wider reading and child choice? I haven't in the past been into 'exact' > levels for guided reading, somewhere in the 'range' and then lots of other > reading instruction. We're an international school, and a bit isolated in > terms of these types of conversations. At the moment we are just following > directions blindly but now all these types of questions are starting to be > asked. Any ideas/advice/thoughts greatly appreciated and I so appreciate the > chance to speak with you all. Suzanne > > _______________________________________________ Mosaic mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/mosaic_literacyworkshop.org. Search the MOSAIC archives at http://snipurl.com/MosaicArchive.
