Lit circles....an expiriment

Being a new teacher and coming off fresh from Language Arts seminars, I was saturated with Literature Circles and being in the power of reading. Reality: My school is putting the pressure on us for our students to pass tests and they aren't for the love of reading.

I have been able to sneak it in here and there. I came across this website and it have role sheets for group members. Love it. Last Friday was my first lit circle (and most of my students too.) It worked; freaky worked. I was worried that the students could smell the fear coming from me...but they didn't. They embraced it and they "got it."

Here is the link:

http://litsite.alaska.edu/workbooks/circle/group.html