Also based on Daniels (1994) and Routman (1991), we have identi-
fied the following group roles:
•Discussion Director: Creates a list of questions for the group.
•Passage Picker: Chooses parts of the book to be read aloud.
•Connector: Finds connections between the book and the class-
room as well as the book and the school community.
You may want to create other roles to satisfy your group’s needs. What-
ever form your group takes, literature circles are a powerful way to explore
information in a relaxed but dynamic setting. They provide opportunities
to practice thinking and communicating with clarity and precision,
listening with understanding and empathy, and thinking flexibly by exam-
ining alternative points of view. They also offer an experience in contin-
uous learning.
References
Daniels, H. (1994). Literature circles: Voice and choice in the student-centered class-
room.York, ME: Stenhouse.
Routman, R. (1991). Invitations: Changing as teachers and learners K–12.
Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.
!!!xxx Learning and Leading with Habits of Mind