End of the Year Challenge

I began the last unit of the year today, a novel study that will have the students working in literature circles. We worked in literature circles earlier in the year and I remember thinking of it as only a mediocre success. Apparently the students felt the same way because when I told them we were going back to literature circles there was a negative murmur throughout the room.

So it looks like I've got a bit of the challenge for the end of the year. Can I turn those negative murmurs into smiles of appreciation for the opportunity to talk about books? I certainly hope so.