Tips On How To Behave in Lit Circles
(adapted from Hill, Noe, and Johnson)
- Keep your eyes on the person who is speaking.
- Keep your hands still and empty.
- Sit up straight.
- Keep your mind focused on what the other person is saying.
- Ask questions.
- Politely disagree and explain why you disagree.
- Make sure only one voice is speaking during a discussion.
- Use what others have said as a "spring board" for something you want to say. (Ex. "Cory said the horseback riding part reminded him of the time he went out west and went horseback riding with his cousins. That reminded me of the time I went up to Mackinac Island and we rode horses around the island. But that's a lot different than the horseback riding in this book.")
- Always have your book with you in discussion and refer to it often.
- Encourage others when they
speak. Say something like "Good point." Or "I like how
you explained that." Or, "Would you explain that again please?"
A Few No No's
- Don't work on your lit circle task during discussion.
- Don't talk to others in a different lit circle.
- Don't make fun of others or their work. Ever.
- Don't come to your discussion unprepared.
- Don't fill out your evaluation sheets until the discussion is officially over.
Nancy G. Patterson, Portland Middle School, Portland, MI
Last updated 8/01/01
