As the senior English class moved on from the Romantic literature unit, Mrs. Fingar introduced literature circles. The literature circles are typically split into three groups of four people in each depending on the class size. Within these three groups, each one receives a different book The Life We Bury, Circe, Sing Unburied Sing, and is given four reading goals to meet throughout the month of reading. During these weeks the students divide into their groups and discuss their roles. 

     There are four roles given to each individual rotating every week in the groups. Role one is tasked with finding three passages in that week’s reading section that give imagery or symbolism. Role two is about finding two quotes that give insight into and about a character or plot in the book. The next is role three called “New Van Gogh”, an important piece of the story is picked and illustrated with a short caption explaining why this scene was chosen. The last one is role 4, it involves creating three questions based on the events for that section of reading, these questions are in-depth and meaningful; each member of the group answers the questions and then the creator of the questions reveals their answer. 

     When speaking with Mrs. Fingar about why she believes literature circles are helpful for students’ education she responded, “It gives exposure to multiple genres while satisfying specific reading standards.” All of these stories are serious and contain allegories, teaching the students an underlying message through an entertaining book. But these books, and many more read in Mrs. Fingar’s classroom, wouldn’t have been possible without the Excellence in Education Grant provided by the Alliance Public Schools Foundation. 

     This grant was provided to Mrs. Fingar in November and used to purchase many books for her class. At the start of the year, the senior class read several graphic novels: Anya’s Ghost, The Gigantic Beard That Was Evil, Through the Woods, and Nimona, which were bought with this grant. To receive this grant Mrs. Fingar had to write about how the money would be used in a beneficial way, Mrs. Fingar has used this grant in a very productive way creating lessons, tests, and units with them. 

     The senior English class is enjoying this new section of novels and is very grateful for the Alliance Public Schools Foundation.