Some of these reading roles have been adapted from Harvey Daniel's Literature circles: Voice and choice in the student-centered classroom published in 1994 by Uork, ME: Senhouse. Other reading roles were created to be effectively used on the web.
Discussion Director
Asks "fat" questions about the story to help the group have dynamic discussion. "Why...How...If..." Your task is to help people talk over the "big ideas" in the reading and share their reactions. Ask the questions only. You do not need to include your response here. The person commenting needs to answer the questions.
Passage Master
Locate a special section of the text that you think your group members would like to revisit. These can be funny, scary, confusing, interesting, a vivid description, or any other good part you read. You decide which passage is worth discussing. Include the passage and your response. The person commenting will react to your response.
Word Wizard
Specialize in locating words that you choose. These are not passages but single words. The words can be new, different, strange, funny, interesting, important, or hard. Cite the word and the page on which it is located. Give the meaning. Write the sentence that includes your word. Tell why it was chosen. Write a new sentence with the word. Those commenting will give a response and write a new sentence with the word.
Connector
Finds connections between the story and the world outside. It can be current or past real world events and experiences. You can connect to life experiences, school, neighborhood, other people and problems, other stories or writings on the same topic, similar events at other times and places, and other writings by the same author. Your task is to understand the story better by relating to it and bring the connections to the discussion with others. Include the connection and your response. Those commenting will respond to the connection.
Critical Thinker
Develops questions for critical thinking based on Blooms Taxonomy. You will include six questions using key words from the Quick Flip Questions for Critical Thinking booklet developed by Linda G. Barton and published by Edupress, Inc. The levels are Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis, and Evaluation. Those commenting will answer one or more questions.
Technologist
Design a technology activity based on content in your book and language arts skills you would be teaching in a classroom. These can be Internet based or focused on software programs such as Microsoft Office, Inspiration, etc. These can be one-session type activities to reinforce or extend classroom learning, or more elaborate, if you choose. You can provide a URL to an activity you find on the web that could be adapted. How-to links are great, just make sure you make it applicable to literature. The idea is to start making technology integration for students a part of your daily thinking and planning. Those commenting will respond to the technology activity.
Travel Tracker
Carefully track where the action is taking place in the assigned reading. Write about where the characters have moved to and from. Note the page locations of the scenes you describe. Those commenting will focus on how the setting impacts the story.
Investigator
Search the web to locate some background information on the book and any topic related to it. The point is to find information that would be useful to gain a deeper understanding of the characters, setting, and plot of the book. You could even include information about the author. Share your links and your reasons for choosing them. Those commenting will visit the links and respond.
Idiom Searcher
Search the chapters to locate idioms and share the meaning. Cite the idiom and the page on which it is located. Write the sentence that includes your idiom. Write a new sentence with the idiom. Those commenting will write a new sentence with the idiom also.
Weblog Possibilities
Use this role to suggest ways you can envision weblogs being used with students in any curriculum area. Those commenting will react to the suggestions.
Learning Reflections
Use this role to pose your thoughts, ideas, questions or any other connections you make about this learning journey. Those commenting reflect and reply.
