What is the purpose of Literature Circles in a classroom setting?

The purpose of Literature Circles in a classroom setting is to encourage students to select books together and assume different roles. This collaborative learning structure allows students to engage with texts in a meaningful way while fostering discussion, critical thinking, and personal connections to the literature. In Literature Circles, each student often takes on a specific role—such as discussion director, summarizer, connector, or vocabulary enricher—which helps to guide the conversation and ensures that all aspects of the text are explored.

This approach not only promotes teamwork and communication skills among students but also empowers them to take ownership of their reading and comprehension. By choosing books collaboratively, students become more invested in their reading choices, making the literature more relevant and engaging to their interests and experiences.