2007 by Education World.

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Literature Circles
Created by the Greek philosopher
Socrates
Answer questions with questions to
encourage higher-level thinking
Teacher becomes facilitator of
discussion
Students lead the discussion
May be conducted as whole-class
Socratic seminar with each student
participating in discussion OR may be
conducted in format of inner and outer
circles. Inner circle students participate
in discussion, while outer circle
students take notes and make
observations about the discussion.
Then, reverse circles.
To facilitate discussion, after students
have read the text, have them prepare
3-3-3: 3 questions about the text, 3
quotations from the text they feel are
important/intriguing, and 3 comments
about the text that will encourage other
students to think differently about the
text.
Socratic Seminars may be used with
any text that is thought provoking!


monday tuesday wednesday thursday friday


K.I.N.D.L.E.
Kids in Need of Diverse Learning Experiences
The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.
- Plutarch


April 2014

Students are grouped together
by choice of text.
Students designate the pace of
the reading.
Students select different roles
in order to think about various
areas of the text.
Students are held accountable
for their assigned reading and
role not only by the teacher,
but also by the other students
in their circle.
Students realize they have a
choice and a voice when it
comes to their learning.
Literature Circles do not
have to be limited to fiction
novels. Try using them with
nonfiction as well!


Literature Circle Roles:
Discussion Director
Word Wizard
Illustrator
Connector
Summarizer
Travel Tracer
Literary Luminary
Create your own roles!
For specific information on some of these
roles, visit Literature Circle Roles or More
Literature Circle Role Sheets

Socratic Questions:
Conceptual Clarification Questions
Probing Assumptions
Probing Rationale, Reasons and
Evidence
Questioning Viewpoints and
Perspectives
Probing Implications and
Consequences
Questions about the Question
For more information on each of these types of
Socratic Questions, visit Socratic Questions

Socratic Seminars