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Welcome to Literature Circles!​ = =

You will be using this space to analyze, annotate, discuss, and publish work in a student-led, literature circle format. You will be choosing your own books to read (from a class list), forming groups with others, and working out other group work associated with that reading. Your work will be done primarily through a group-created wiki space. If your wiki does its job, it will entice readers into reading your group's book.

As a group, you will complete projects and post them to a wiki page for your novel and class. You may work on this project during the class time allotted, before or after school, and at home. All group members are expected to participate in the creation of the wiki and will be evaluated by your group members after the project is completed.

= What are the advantages? =
 * Paperless assignments and communication
 * You will learn to practice ethical, safe and effective use of technology
 * The opportunity to express your ideas in a variety of digital media
 * Everyone will have an equal chance to participate in discussions and site-building.

= How does this work? = I have set up new wikis for all of the reading groups, so you should receive an invitation to your own wiki page in your gaggle box soon!

Group members should refer to the main literature circle page to find out what is required on their wikis, and will use the discussion tab for online conversations about the books they are reading. The fun part is setting up your wiki page and embedding a variety of media to help describe our books and entice others to read and discuss them!

Wikis will stay private and accessible/editable only by group members until they are ready for publication. When we are sure everything on the pages is appropriate, proofread, and all the proper citations included, we will lock the pages and make the cite accessible to everyone. Visitors can view our work and discussions. = =

DAY ONE:

 * Log into gaggle. net. Accept your invitation to join your new literature circle wiki.
 * Write down your gaggle email address and your password. You are responsible for keeping up with your email address and password. Exchange email addresses with your group members.
 * Record your gaggle information, group members' email addresses, this website and your group's website in a safe, easily accessible place. A rough draft folder would work nicely.
 * Begin going through this virtual literature circle wiki and familiarize yourself with the requirements of the project and product descriptions. Write deadlines in your planners.
 * Create all of the required pages on your wiki - see "Requirements" page
 * Look at sample student wikis
 * Document some planning ideas and start assigning responsibilities for the next lab session
 * Read the discussion question for the week!!

DAY TWO:

 * Open your Beckettschilis.wikispaces.com and keep it open for reference as you work on your project today.
 * Open your group's wiki
 * Review your directions and fix mistakes from yesterday.
 * Read through all of the requirements and choice projects. Choose which projects your group wants to complete.
 * Organize and fill your planning page with job assignments and specific instructions.
 * Officially choose colors, sizes, fonts, styles, etc... for the wiki.
 * Complete your wiki's home page!
 * Make sure you understand how to post discussion before you answer this week's discussion question!
 * Start looking at Creative Commons and downloading possible images for your various pages and products.
 * Check group member's progress.
 * Proofread existing page information.
 * REMEMBER to cite all of your postings!

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