The Impact of Literacy Circles on Student Engagement in 5th Grade ELA

AUTHOR(S)

MARICON R. MANALO

ABSTRACT

—— This reflective and descriptive paper examines the impact of Literacy Circles on student engagement in a 5th grade English Language Arts classroom, with alignment to the New Mexico English Language Arts Standards and instructional practices. Drawing from classroom observations, student work samples, and ongoing formative assessments, the study explores how structured peer-led discussions support comprehension, collaboration, and critical thinking within informational and literary texts. Findings indicate that Literacy Circles significantly increase student motivation, participation, and ownership of learning by providing equitable opportunities for students to practice skills such as quoting accurately, determining main ideas, analyzing text structures, and integrating information from multiple sources. Additionally, the strategy supports culturally responsive teaching practices central to New Mexico’s educational framework by fostering student voice, community building, and diverse perspectives. The paper concludes that Literacy Circles serve as an effective and engaging instructional approach that enhances both academic performance and social-emotional development in 5th grade learners. Keywords — Literacy Circles; Student Engagement; 5th Grade ELA; New Mexico ELA Standards; Collaborative Learning; Culturally Responsive Teaching; Reading Comprehension; Small-Group Instruction; Academic Discussion; Elementary Literacy Practices