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Problematizing Literature Circles as Forums for Discussion of Multicultural and Political Texts
Author(s) -
Thein Amanda Haertling,
Guise Megan,
Sloan DeAnn Long
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of adolescent and adult literacy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.73
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1936-2706
pISSN - 1081-3004
DOI - 10.1598/jaal.55.1.2
Subject(s) - multiculturalism , politics , pedagogy , sociology , multicultural education , point (geometry) , quality (philosophy) , mathematics education , psychology , epistemology , political science , law , philosophy , geometry , mathematics
Abstract In a six‐week literature circle unit in a tentth‐grade classroom, one group of students discussed Dorothy Allison's novel Bastard out of Carolina . By criteria frequently used to judge the quality of discussion, this literature circle was successful. However, several key moments are highlighted that point to the limits of literature circles as they are typically implemented for engaging students in the full critical depth of multicultural and political texts. Finally, suggestions are offered for rethinking literature circle pedagogy with the goal of offering students a more nuanced and robust experience with such texts.