Virtual Literature Circles Erika Tyner Yancey County Schools

Virtual Literature Circles Erika Tyner Yancey County Schools East Yancey Middle School

Using Action Research To Empower North Carolina Educators A Race to the Top Initiative NC Department of Public Instruction Educator Effectiveness Division

Questions? Jot them down!

Let’s Take a Quick Poll What are your experiences with Literature Circles?

Problems of Practice Traditional Literature Circles • Teacher Not Present 100% of Time • Distractions • Missed Teachable Moments • Students “Flying Under Radar” (reading, work, and discussions)

Why is this Research Important? English Language Arts Common Core Standards • Reading: Literature • Speaking and Listening

Who Might Benefit from Research ? ● Middle Grades Teachers ● Language Arts Teachers ● Reading Specialists ● Technology Facilitators ● Media Specialists

How will this Innovation Benefit Students ? ● Deeper Understanding of Texts ● Richer Literature Circle Discussions ● Additional Student Accountability (reading, work, and in discussions) ● Whole Class Lessons Targeting Issues ● Written Platform (for students struggling with verbal communication)

*(as compared to traditional face-to-face experiences) Make Knowledge Public Collect Data Analyze/Interpret Data Can Technology Enhance Engagement and Reading Comprehension? * Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Research Question

Make Knowledge Public • Rural Area (Western North Carolina) Analyze/Interpret Data • All Ability Levels (emergent, struggling, & above grade level readers) Collect Data • 6 th grade Language Arts Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Study Participants

Dependent Variables • Reading Comprehension Abilities • Engagement/Interest in Reading Make Knowledge Public 1 st Nine Weeks - Traditional (Face-to-Face) Vs. 2 nd Nine Weeks - Virtual Discussion Analyze/Interpret Data • Discussion Method during Literature Circle Meetings Collect Data Independent Variable Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Study Variables

Make Knowledge Public Online Discussion Format Teacher present for 100% of time Record of Student Participation Documented Discussion (used as teachable moments later) • Active Dialogue - leading to a richer, deeper understanding of the text (between students and students/teachers) Analyze/Interpret Data • • Collect Data Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Innovation/Intervention

Make Knowledge Public Edmodo (used in study) Google Docs Blackboard GOODREADS BLOGGER Analyze/Interpret Data Virtual Classroom Discussion Options Collect Data Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Implementation in the Classroom

http: //goo. gl/2 UQRD 1 Link to Google Doc Folder - ALL Handouts Make Knowledge Public Analyze/Interpret Data Planning is Key! Collect Data Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Implementation in the Classroom

Materials Post-it Notes Book Literature Circle Packet

Planning for Virtual Literature Circles Link to Teacher Planning Information

Literature Circle Teacher Log Link to Teacher Log Group 1 Book Title Student Book # Assigned Letter (A, B, C, or D) Book Returned Lit. Circle Log Grade

Virtual Literature Circle Packet Link to Packet *A Modified Packet is also in the Google Docs Folder*

Examples

Examples

Literature Circle Participation Rubric Link to Online Discussion Rubric Student Name: Book: Class: Meeting All Materials (Check off) 1 2 3 4 5 6 # of comments in correct form # of replies to teacher (10 points per comment, 8 comments required) (10 points per reply, 2 replies required) Grade (# x 10)

Virtual Literature Circle Handouts Also in the Google Docs Folder: http: //goo. gl/2 UQRD 1 ● Modified Virtual Literature Circle Packet ● Virtual Literature Circle Packet Rubric for Grading ● Virtual Literature Circle Meeting #6 Questions

Traditional Literature Circle Handouts In the Google Docs Folder: http: //goo. gl/G 0 n 6 TR ● Traditional Literature Circle Packet ● Modified Traditional Literature Circle Packet ● Traditional Literature Circle Order of Events

Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Example #1 Discussion in Edmodo Make Knowledge Public Analyze/Interpret Data Link to Discussion Collect Data Implementation in the Classroom

Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Example #2 Discussion in Edmodo Make Knowledge Public Analyze/Interpret Data Link to Discussion Collect Data Implementation in the Classroom

Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Example #3 Discussion in Edmodo Make Knowledge Public Analyze/Interpret Data Link to Discussion Collect Data Implementation in the Classroom

Make Knowledge Public ● Student Interest Surveys ● Parent Surveys on Interest of Students (Homework) ● Homework Completion ● District Benchmark Scores (Fiction Questions Only) ● Teacher Collected Engagement Data ● Plot Diagram Scores ● Literature Circle Student Grades ● Student Self Assessments ● Student Interviews ● Student Case Studies/Anecdotes Analyze/Interpret Data Collected Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Data Collected

Data Collected Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan ❖David’s Story ❖Elliot’s Story ❖Ivy’s Story ❖Ilene’s Story Make Knowledge Public Analyze/Interpret Data Anecdotal Data

While students seem to be fairly equally engaged in both Traditional and Virtual Literature Circles, Virtual Literature Circles have a more positive impact on reading comprehension. Make Knowledge Public Analyze/Interpret Data Collect Data Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Preliminary Findings

Analyze/Interpret Data Collect Data Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Combination of Traditional and Virtual Make Knowledge Public Recommendations

Analyze/Interpret Data Collect Data Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan • Open-ended Questions vs. Post-it Notes • Authentic Experience • Roles • Badges Make Knowledge Public Additional Thoughts

• Students Struggling with Written Expression • Technology Availability • Technology Problems • Internet Availability (school and home) • Misspellings Make Knowledge Public Analyze/Interpret Data Collect Data Innovation/Intervention Action Research Plan Limitations of Online Format

Questions Is there anything you would like to discuss or ask?

Conclusion of Presentation Thank you for your participation. Name: Erika Tyner School/District: East Yancey Middle School Phone: 828 -682 -2281 Email: ehschultz@yanceync. net Virtual Literature Circles Handouts http: //goo. gl/2 UQRD 1 Traditional Literature Circle Handouts http: //goo. gl/G 0 n 6 TR