LC's and Book Clubs

So earlier this school year, around late October/early November I experimented with Literature Circles. Now I say I was "experimenting" because it didn't go so well. One specific component of the Lit. Circles was the task of Making Connections. For some reason it was really difficult for me to teach Making Connections. I think the problem had to do with lack of modeling, poor examples, and the fact that I didn't spend enough time really exploring the kinds of connections students can make and discussing and applying how connections fit into students' schemas.
In addition, my management of the Lit. Circles was fairly poor. Also, I wasn't entirely sure of my students' reading abilities the first time I administered Lit. Circles. Lastly, I used school novels which are falling apart and have huge clumps of pages missing. Therefore, my students weren't motivated to fulfill their responsibilities.

About two weeks ago I began reading class novels with my students. Periods 2 and 3 are reading The Teacher's Funeral by Richard Peck, periods 5 and 6 are reading Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach and period 7 is reading Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Dicamillo. This time, I have organized the book reading much more like a Book Club than a Lit. Circle. The students and I like it a lot better.

For starters, we are all reading the same book at the same pace. Most of the time we read aloud, but on one day of the week students are responsible for reading a chapter or two by themselves. Students reading levels have greatly improved which gives them the confidence to read aloud, the capacity to think past word recognition, and comprehend and apply what they’re reading.

My students are also held more accountable for the information they read. Therefore, they have more interest vested in reading.

Furthermore, I’m now a more experienced teacher. I know how to keep my students interested, constantly check for comprehension, ensure that they are making connections to keep up motivation and to demonstrate the novel’s relevance in their lives.
I’m looking forward to trying Lit. Circles again next year, but I think it will be a two month process instead of a two week process.