Literature Template Post to Weebly Bibliographic Information (APA Formatting): Author(s) Affiliation: Shelton-Strong, S.J.(2012). Literature circles in ELT.

ELT Journal: English Language Teachers Journal The has been a teacher for over 20 years all over the world. He has focused on action research in the classroom with an emphasis on student autonomy, teacher development and training and using literature in ELT. Scholarly article presenting an action research study using literature circles to evaluate its effectiveness on reading competency and language development in a class with many ELL students.

Type of Resource:
(Scholarly article presenting a study; Trade article presenting a teaching strategy or methodology or other; Website describing a curriculum package, etc)

Summary of essential information:

For the purpose of this study literature circles were implemented into the reading curriculum. The researchers focused on students whose first language was not that of the general population in the classroom. The study found that the use of literature circles did have many positive effects on the learning experience and development of language and reading competency in these children. The author states that children who participated in this study found it initially challenging to engage in meaningful talk about the text but with encouragement and post-circle awareness raising discussions all students were able to show improvement in language sophistication, navigation of text, and even the children who normally would not speak during class found their voice and began to interact at a level not previously observed. This source gives evidence that supports the idea that literature have positive effects of school-age children when implemented correctly. This source covers a different population because of the study's focus on ELL students.

Way in which this source influences the field of Early Childhood Education or related fields: Potential relevance to your research topic and study:

- For the purpose of my study this article was closely related to the population which I teach. Because of the dual-language program, my planning of literacy lesson and activities in reading are aligned to my variety L1 and L2 students in my classroom. I have both extremes all Spanish and all English. I also have the in betweeners who understand and can speak either language but are academically lacking in reading and language competency to be able to handle complex text.