Literacy Centers

Literacy center time is the time of the day students look forward to.  They have the opportunity to choose their work with literacy materials in a very engaged manner.  This time of the day is designed to increase letter/sound knowledge, listening skills, oral language expression, rhyme, letter formation and cooperation.  My job is to set the room up with good choices that provide meaningful activities.  I change and add activities weekly.  I also roam the room and interact with students in small groups or individually during center time. 

Organization:  There are 5 required centers.  We have a center job board.  Each student is required to go to one assigned center per day.  By the end of the week, each student will have done the task at each center.  They are required to stay at that center for 15 minutes.  (We set a timer.)  At the end of the 15 minutes students may choose where they spend the rest of center time.

REQUIRED CENTERS:

1.  Writing Center:  There is a required task to do that changes weekly.  For example they may make a simple 3 page book using a sentence frame:  ___________  is my friend.  Or a seasonal pictionary;  drawing 3 words from a poster at the writing center and coping the word.  There are endless possibilities.

2.  Book and Tape Center:  Students listen to a book on tape and do some sort of simple response such as; draw a character from the book or draw the setting or show someone in your group your favorite page and tell them why you liked it.

3.  Magnet Center/Pocket Chart:  Magnet letters and word cards to copy, sorting activity, rhyming activity.  I spent my PTA money last year on things to use at the magnet center.  Lakeshore has several manipulative to purchase.  I also use the center game in my Mailbox Magazine to cut apart and put magnets on.  Again, the possibilities are endless!!   At the pocket chart center, we make sentences from the books that we read.  Sometimes we cut them apart and make the sentences.  We may work on sequence skills, rhyming skills, etc.  Endless possibilities!!!

4.  Phonics Center.  Our school adopted Houghton Mifflin.  A Phonics Center came with the series.  Students are required to do that activity.  There are some other things to do at that center in case they get done early.  Most of the time my aide stays at this center to supervise.

5.  Book Center:  Students may pretend read, take a picture walk or real read emergent readers at this center.  They may work alone or with a buddy.  Sometimes I stay at this center and listen or read to children.

When the timer goes off the students may leave the center if they are done.  This takes lots of practice and modeling in the beginning of the year, but it is well worth it.

Optional Centers to do after finishing required centers:

*Computers

*Pocket chart activity

*Read the room – we have a variety of wants and pointers.  We have sparkle pointers, a red, white and blue pointer that lights up, we have word frames and fun glasses to wear during this time.

*Write the room -  Students use clip board and fun pencils and pens to write words around the room.

*File folder games

*ABC games

*Coached Writing

*Guided Reading groups

*During this time my aide and I work with small groups or individuals on skills they need practice on.  We also use this time to do assessments.

We usually spend 30 – 45 minutes on literacy centers.

On short weeks we do not have the five required centers.  Students may choose where they would like to work.  Sometimes we do four rotating centers on these days.  Two centers are teacher directed and two are independent.  One independent center is always a book and tape.