Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Literacy Centers

Literacy Centers

It seems like every year I tweek my Literacy Centers.  I have taught the Daily 5 in my classroom and I loved it, however we got a new reading series last year so I decided to do something different.  Last year I did the Literacy Centers in four different centers.  I liked them, however they just didn't seem right to me.  This year I changed them again.  This year I have 9 different centers.  I know that sounds like a lot of centers, but the great thing about these centers is that each child has a partner instead of a whole group.  Each child has up to four centers per day they can go to.  Before they are allowed to go to their center they have to complete their seat work.  Our seat works consists of worksheets from Read Well, handwriting practice, sight word and phonogram practice.  I do love using manipulatives, but I do think students need to be able to write too.  I have students at centers for about 15 to 20 minutes each.  It kinda depends on how long I need for my reading group that I am working with.  My partner groups can change whenever they need to change and the same as my reading groups.  Here is a picture of the Literacy Center Board I use.  All I have to do each day is move the pictures down one level and then they are ready for the next day. 
 The pictures are for each Literacy Center and the numbers by their pictures are for our Math Centers.  Here is my list of centers that I am currently using.  (FYI- I do switch the centers out to work on things the students should be working on per quarter or things I know they need more practice at)

Computers- students play Education City
Partner Reading- Read with a partner
Writing- Students write a sentence and illustrate it.
Blocks- students are working on sounds.
Sand Table- tracing pictures.
Playdough- rainbow writing sight words.
 
Library- Students choose any book

 ABC- students are working on ending sounds.

 Handwriting- students are putting a sentence together correctly with nice handwriting.

 Star- Review beginning and ending sounds.


 iPad- right now the students are playing Teach Me Kindergarten


My students LOVE centers.  I think it is their favorite part of our day.  They really enjoy being up to get up and go to a spot in the classroom.  I recently just added that the students have to write down what they need in their notebook.  This way they have accountability for what they worked on during their centers.  Plus, I can check to make sure they are understanding the different concepts.  At the beginning of the year when we start centers, the playdough center is actually a playdough center.  The same with the block and sand table.  As the students get smarter and smarter I switch the centers to help them become even smarter.  

28 comments:

  1. Thanks for visiting and following my blog. I am following you too. Now that I am at 100 followers wach for a giveaway.

    Tricia

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  2. I'm your newest follower! I love your button by the way, too!! ;)


    Second Grade Sugar and Spice

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    Replies
    1. Thanks so much for becoming a follower! Love your button too!! Lol.

      April

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  3. Hi April! I'm so glad you stopped by my blog! I loved reading about the different centers you have and I think it's great that you had an iPad center! How fun! I look forward to reading more of your lovely posts!

    Molly
    Lessons with Laughter

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    1. Molly,
      I am glad you liked my post about my centers. I too love the iPads!!

      April

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  4. Your blog is adorable!!! Thanks for being my 99th follower! Just one more to 100! Woo Hoo! BTW....I am you newest follower!
    Ms. McBee’s Kinderbugs

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    1. Sharon,
      Thanks so much!! Thanks for becoming my follower!!

      April

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  5. April,
    I saw on one of your posts that you wanted to learn to leave at link to your blog at the end of your comments. (It's late, does that make sense? Hope so!) I learned how to from the wonderful Jenn Bates. Here is the address to go to: http://finallyinfirst.blogspot.com/2011/07/direct-linking-in-comments.html

    (Ironically, I don't think this will appear as a link!!!)
    Camille
    An Open Door

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  6. Thanks for visiting my blog. You have a very cute blog. Love the station ideas!! I am now your newest follower.
    Barbara
    happyteachingifirst.blogspot.com

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  7. I am the same way! What seems to work with one group doesn't necessarily work the next year, so I have to tweak things. Some years it seems that I have to change things up multiple times during the year. This is one of those years. Sigh.

    I am your newest follower!
    -Megan

    First Grade Magic

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    1. Megan,
      Sorry to hear you are having one of those years. Hopefully next year will be better for you. Thanks so much for becoming a follower.

      April
      Wolfelicious

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  8. Hi! These look great! I am still trying to figure out how to completely integrate centers in my classroom. I mean, we do them daily, but they really stress me out. I think it's the fact that I have 23 little bodies crammed into a make-shift tiny classroom...

    So glad you stopped by....now I'm your newest follower!

    Natalie
    Teachery Tidbits

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    1. Natalie,
      You should try doing centers like these although you do have a lot of kiddos! Wow, 23 is really a lot. Thanks so much for becoming a follower.

      April
      Wolfelicious

      Delete
  9. Your stations look so cute! I just found your blog and now follow! I'm new to blogging to and I'm having a giveaway - come on over and check it out!

    Kaleigh's Klassroom

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    1. Kaleigh,
      Thanks so much for becoming a follower and checking out my blog.

      April
      Wolfelicious

      Delete
  10. Hi April! Thanks for stopping by and leaving love. :) That's so neat that your students have access to ipads! I can't wait to explore your blog some more!

    Sarah
    funintitlemath.blogspot.com

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  11. Sarah,
    Thanks for becoming a follower!! I think it is neat too that my students have iPads! I was very lucky to get them.

    Aprkl
    Wolfelicious

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  12. Just found your darling blog. I love all of your centers. I have some ipads/ipods and the kids love this center. Would be interested in seeing what apps you use.
    Robynn
    BusyBees

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    1. Yay! I am so glad you became a follower on my blog. I created a post earlier about the apps I use. Check out my labels to find it. ;-) Right now my students are playing Teach Me. Each student has there own account and I can track to see how they are doing.

      April
      Wolfelicious

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  13. Hi April
    Great centers and yes the iPads are so great for your kiddos. I love centers and feel like I have a lot of choices and a good handle on them but rumor is we might be going from 23 to 30 kids next year...ugh! Not sure what I'll do then. I had 32 first graders in 1995 and it not good. :o(
    Vicky
    Traditions Laughter and Happily Ever After

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  14. Vicky,
    I can't imagine having 30 students. Ugh..... I feel for you and the students.

    April
    Wolfelicious

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  15. I am your 50th follower!!! Thanks for visiting me and entering Miss. S's giveaway!
    Shawna

    The Picture Book Teacher's Edition

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  16. Hey Vicky! I'm also a follwer now too! Love your centers!


    Emily

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