School and classroom libraries should contain various types of books to suit the interests of children. On hand should also be multiple copies of books for shared reading among students and teachers. I have used literature circles in my classroom before and find them most encouraging for independent thought. It provides a forum for students to share and voice their opinions without being judged. Groups of students read the same book and get to share their thoughts and experiences about the book. The group meets regularly to keep everyone on track and is kept small (perhaps four to five students) to encourage participation by all. Students are free to choose their own titles in the mystery fiction genre.
Students also share in group activities involving the novel they are reading. It is important to model expected behavior in a literature circle. Eventually, the group is independent of any teacher direction. Students then take responsibility for their reading and input to the group. Students will likely meet once a week to share their thoughts on what they've read and engage in literary activities as a group. Listed are suggested questions for discussion in a literature circle. Groups need not answer them all in a single session, but rather discuss one or two.
Suggested Questions
1. Which part of the book stands out in your mind the most?
2. Picture a part of the book in your mind. Which part of the book did you picture? Why?
3. Was there anything in the book that surprised you?
4. Does this book make you think of anything that happened in your life?
5. If the author were here, what would you say to him/her? What questions would you ask?
Suggested Activities
1. Make a sequential time chart of the ten most important plot events.
2. Write a new ending for the story.
3. Make a large web of the novel's characters, events and themes.
4. Discuss any clues the author gave that helped you to anticipate the outcome of the story.
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5. Discuss how the author creates suspense to keep you reading the novel. Chart the suspects and draw a description of each.
As in the past I am looking forward to this being very successful. Just look at the number of book clubs sprouting around the country as people read along with others and are able to share their thoughts and experiences with an intimate group. This approach really appeals to middle-grade students because it is different from and more sophisticated than the approaches used in primary grades. As students participate in the literature circles they call upon and develop their metacognitive abilities. They look not only at the "what"- the written products- but also at the "why's" and "how's," that is, at a writer's goals and strategies. In doing so, students become more insightful as readers and more concise as critics. Focusing on mystery fiction, students will increase their literary understanding and appreciation of this genre, read more critically, and be " Wrapped in Mystery."
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Notes
1The Psychological Corporation. "Connecticut Mastery Test Second Generation.
(Connecticut : State of Connecticut, 1993), 11.
2Jack Silbert. Math Mysteries. (New York: Scholastic Professional Books, 1995), 13.
3Tara McCarthy. Teaching Genre. (New York: Scholastic Professional Books, 1995), 82.
5Scholastic Scope. Mystery in the Spotlight. (New York: Scholastic Inc., 1994), 37.