by Julie Aylward Upper Elementary Language and Literature Students are learning how to dig deeper, make connections, and ask questions when reading their novel study in Literature Circle. By engaging students to become active readers, they learn the process needed to think critically. During literature circle discussions, each student has a role to engage in during the discussion. Active participation in the story is key to developing a deeper understanding. Each class in upper elementary is learning through this process. For example, the grade six class is currently reading a non-fiction story about child labor in Pakistan called "Iqbal." They are learning about how more than two hundred million children between the ages of five and seventeen are sold into bonded labor and have to work in carpet factories and brick kilns. This true story helps our students to open their eyes to how children are treated in other parts of the world and how fortunate they are to have a private education. By discussing world issues, this story becomes relevant when students can make real-world connections. It is during this discussion process that students learn to read and understand literature at a deeper level. Students engage in both a written and oral component during the novel study. Learning from each other during discussion helps students develop an understanding from multiple perspectives and helps them to develop more interpretative thinking skills.
Wheatley School Montessori and International Baccalaureate school