Literature Circles Begin Now

Part of tonight's homework is to begin reading Island of the Blue Dolphins, by Scott O'Dell, a classic work of historical fiction for this age group. Students will all be reading this book over the next few weeks then discussing it with classmates in literature circles. The assignments have been carefully parsed out on the cover page of the packet each student has in his or her binder, and will be due on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. Students will convene with their small group of three students and discuss the book in a highly scaffolded discussion format. Some of the end goals are to learn about native Californians, manage and keep up with a series of assignments, and learn how to engage in academic discourse with peers. That's a lot, and it will be an adventure. Please let me know how it's going at home, and I encourage you to read aloud or read together with your child. Some of you may even choose to purchase an audio book to support comprehension. We will happily provide suggestions if you have any questions or concerns.