Book Groups
For the next six weeks, we will be reading novels in small book groups. Books groups allow you to shape and direct the discussion, and to explore context, theme and symbol. Because each group is small, and because each of you has an active role in every discussion, it is vital that you stay on top of the reading and work, and also that you stay in touch with your group members during each step of the process.
Reading Goals
Your job is to have this book completely finished by Tuesday, January 19th. During your first meeting, decide how much you will read for each class and record it on the Book Group Calendar. For the four farm week sessions, you need to plan time for two group meetings during your week at the farm and two for your week in the city (members of each group are from the same homeroom).
Roles
For each class session, you will have a specific role in your group. As a group, decide who will take on each role for each class session. No person can have the same job for two classes in a row. Record this information on your Book Group Calendar. Depending on the size of your group, certain roles will be filled by two people who’ll need to coordinate with each other prior to the group discussion.
Discussion Director(s)
- Creates questions for discussion (at least 5, thought-provoking questions)
- Manages Discussion
- Ensures Participation from each group member
- Creates Journal prompt
- Emails discussion questions and journal prompts to me beforehand
As you create discussion questions, think first about what you want to focus on in the discussion. Are there symbols or developing themes in the chapter that stood out to you? What important character information do we learn? Is there an aspect of the writing style that you want to focus on (detail, metaphor, use of dialogue)? What larger political or cultural issues are surfacing? How do they play a role in the chapter?
Journal prompts should focus on how or why questions. They should connect to and extend upon the discussion in class. For example, if your discussion focuses on a particular theme, ask a follow-up question related to that.
Vocabulary Enricher/ Background Researcher(s)
- Looks up any unfamiliar vocabulary
- Researches unfamiliar historical, political and cultural references in the chapter(s)
As you read, keep a notebook, piece of paper or a computer nearby. Jot down the words and references you don’t understand. After you’ve completed the reading, look up the vocabulary and unfamiliar references. Write down the answers you find in your notebook. Include sources for your information, in case you need to revisit something.
Literary Luminary/ Quote Finder(s)
- Finds specific quotes from each chapter to share with group (at least 3 per meeting)
- Explains the significance of each quote
- Brings in outside materials that pertain to the chapter (articles, photographs, music, poems, handmade illustration, etc)
While you’re reading, keep a piece of paper, notebook or computer handy. Jot down the page number of quotes that stand out to you. Once you’ve finished the reading, revisit those quotes. Write down the complete quotes and page numbers that you see as especially interesting/significant/symbolic/confusing. Jot down your reasons for having chosen the quote on your notebook as well. Also, for each session, bring one outside material (see list above) that might add to the discussion or the group/s understanding of the book.
Discussion Breakdown
Each discussion should be organized using the following timetable:
- Discussion and Share (20-25 minutes)
- Journal Writing (10-15 minutes)
- Planning/ Self Assessment (5 minutes)
Evaluation
Your work in these groups will be evaluated in various ways.
- Self-evaluation sheets
- Group evaluation sheets
- Teacher evaluation
- Journal writing
- Group-designed quizzes
- Final presentations
Important Information
These groups give you more freedom in terms of the direction of each discussion. They also require you to take even more responsibility for the reading, your role and your communication within the group.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get in contact with your group beforehand, providing them with any of the materials you were responsible for on that day (discussion questions, quotes, etc). If you are in class but unprepared for a group discussion or haven’t completed your particular role, this will greatly affect your individual grade for the book group project.
