Dear Families of Room 102,

     Your child is bringing home his/her literature circle book to read at home. Please discuss, and/or read, it with your child at least once or twice a week to help him/her to mark parts for discussion. We will discuss the book together in class in small groups. It is important that the book comes back to school on Fridays for our discussion time.

    Each novel will be accompanied by a mini-journal that I am supplying and helping the students set up. Supplies are limited though, so please encourage your child to keep track of his/her belongings. There will also be a final project for each novel that the student will do independently at home. These projects vary in length, difficulty, and style and your child will be allowed to choose the one best suited for his/her skills. Each is worth 50 points and the grading rubrics in listed on the directions. The students will be told the point requirement per marking period.

     Please keep in mind that this book is not necessarily at your child’s independent reading level and that the books change and rotate. Literature circles are just one part of our reading program. Reading instruction takes place in many other ways in our classroom. The purpose of literature circles is to expose children to good literature, choices, promote thoughtful and reflective reading, and teach students how to have literary discussions.

   Thank you for your participation! Please let me know if you have any questions.