Artifact 12

Context
A literature circle is a unit that is based on dividing children into different groups depending on their instructional reading level and allowing them to learn and explore one children's novel that corresponds with other novels that the entire class is reading. Each group reads a novel that matches their reading level. The teacher then assigns each student in the group a job to complete from the information in each section. I created this artifact during Spring 2002. It was created by using Netscape Composer to create web pages that were divided up into three different grade levels. Each lesson focuses on books that have something to do with chocolate. (one above grade level, one at grade level, and one below grade level). The unit focuses on various reading levels, which allows all students to become engaged in the same topic by reading different novels. This unit was developed for the fourth grade, but my section was created for the fifth grade reading level, which was one grade above the actual reading level.

Impact
This Literature Circle can be used in both Language Arts and the Social Studies Curriculum. It is very useful when helping students learn reading and language arts skills. Students are responsible for reading each section and completing each job, which are interchangeable, that they are given to them. This type of reading can help students to improve their reading, writing, and language arts skills. The Literature Circle, "CHOCOLATE: How Sweet It Is," can be used as an example for other teachers to go by to create their own literature circle on any topic or author. It is outlined section by section to show how each job is completely and they are demonstrated with various examples.

Alignment
This artifact aligns with competency 10.3 because the example can be found on the internet for other teachers to use within their own classroom. This artifact also aligns with competency 12.5 because this unit allows students to organize the materials that they find within each section. They must learn to manage their reading time in order to complete each section to share with their group. Students are also encouraged to get involved and collaborate with their group.

Alignment with INTASC Standards
The Literature Circle Unit aligns with INTASC Standard 1 because it allows students to dig into each chapter to find various answers based on their jobs. The students are then making predictions, researching information, and drawing conclusions on their own based on the information that they find. It may be more beneficial to the students to find and create their own answer rather than relying solely on the teacher's opinions because they can began to form their own opinions and find proof to back them up. The literature circles allow them to do just that by looking through each section to find answers to their own questions. They learn by finding and proving the information themselves, which definitely makes it become a more meaningful experience for everyone involved.

The Literature Circle Unit also aligns with INTASC Standard 4 because it helps to teach the students using a different instructional strategies to get the idea across. It is an effective way of helping students' develop critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, and performance skills. The students act as the teacher by preparing their jobs to share with their groups.

The Literature Circle Unit also aligns with INTASC Standard 6 because the teacher uses effective verbal, nonverbal, and media communication to teach the students about literature circles and how to complete them. It is an excellent way to get students involved interacting and collaborating with other classmates, than some more traditional language arts lessons.