Additionally, the structure of the nonfiction/informational text used may not have been well suited for the literature circle format. This raises an interesting issue which requires further investigation.

Table 5: Fiction/Nonfiction (Year-end)

To identify the effects of the literature circles' strategy on the students' perceptions of themselves as readers, the questions Do you think literature circles helped you become a better reader? and How do you know? were included on the year-end survey. Analysis of the boys' responses revealed that 92% felt their reading had improved. (See Table 6)

Table 6: Do you think literature circles helped you become a better reader?

Boys supported their awareness of becoming a better reader by writing the following responses:

"I am a better reader but I was a good reader before literature circles."
"I learned lots of new words."
"I can read faster and better."
"...because I read more."