Determine student reading levels for choosing an appropriate book. Divide class into literature circle groups of four to six students according to reading level, book title or student interest. Choose either a whole group book title or several different titles, four to six copies of each.
Introduce story element vocabulary to students. Briefly define the story elements of character, setting, plot, conflict, point of view and theme as they pertain to a fiction story. If age appropriate, instruct students to write the words and a brief definition in the response journal. If not, create a class chart with picture definition clues.
Provide students with a guided practice for story elements by reading a picture book aloud. Ask the whole group of students to respond to your questions about story elements within the story you read aloud. Instruct students that they will read other books then meet in small groups to independently analyze story elements with classmates.
Have students meet in literature circle groups after you read a portion of a book aloud to younger students as they follow along, or after you give older students time to read. Choose a story element to be the focus for a group discussion. Ask groups to meet and discuss the story element you assign. For example, students might meet to discuss and describe the main character or setting.
Assign a written response in the journal related to the story element students discussed. For very young students, a picture response with a dictated description replaces the independent written response. Require that students explain the story element fully.
Informally assess student knowledge of the story element during the group discussions and written responses. Provide added assistance to those students not understanding the concept of an element after the whole group introduction, small group discussions and written response.
Continue with the literature circle meetings, discussions and responses focusing on new story elements each meeting until you have assigned every element for a group discussion and response. Review definitions of the elements as needed to insure student understanding.
After getting through all the story elements one at a time in group discussions, assign different students the job of focusing on a specific element. Instruct them to be prepared to lead the group as they discuss that story element and the current reading. Students increase story element understanding as they lead the story element discussion and the group holds discussions on more than one story element.
Provide guidelines for the story element discussions after initial discussions to deepen student understanding beyond simple descriptions. For example, ask students discussing story characters to describe how two characters are alike and different. You might also ask students to discuss the story plot element by requesting that they discuss what might have happened in the story if a certain event had not occurred.