These are the Literacy Center Directions:
I have a pocket chart that looks something like the following:
Student 1Student 2 / Browsing Box / Buddy Reading / Overhead Work
Student 3
Student 4 / Math Monsters / Buddy Reading / Big Library
Student 5
Student 6 / Creative Writing / Buddy Reading / Computers
Student 7
Student 8 / Dictionary Detectives / Buddy Reading / Listening Center
Student 9
Student 10 / Punctuation Cafe / Buddy Reading / Class Library
Student 11
Student 12 / Vocabulary Work / Buddy Reading / Get the Main Idea!
Student 13
Student 14 / Journaling Through the Seasons / Buddy Reading / Sentence Construction
Student 15
Student 16 / Write On! / Buddy Reading / Spelling Connections
Student 17
Student 18 / MediaCenter / Buddy Reading / PoetryCenter
I have students as buddies according to their ability and my guided reading groups.
I do whole group instruction on the skills that will be on the tests for about 15-20 minutes. I have students as buddies according to their ability and my guided reading groups.
When I meet with my 1st group, the rest of the students are doing Buddy Reading and Practice book pages for at least 15 minutes, they cannot go to another center! When my timer goes off, the students can go to one of the centers that are next to their name for that day. They have to stay there for another 15 minutes while I meet with my 2nd group. When the timer goes off, they go to the other center next to their name and so on.
I can usually only meet with 3 of my 4 groups in the time I have. Every morning I move the names up on the chart, but the centers don’t move.
It took another teacher and I a while to create the centers. I bought some tubs from Dollar General or Dollar Tree and a lot of the stations can be taken to their desks.
Browsing Boxes are categorized by different subjects (sports, people, history, science, etc)
Creative Writing is on T.V. trays that fold down.
Country Explorations: I got maps from a subscription I got and the students have to read the maps and follow the directions.
Dictionary Detectives: Got some magnifying Glasses, and 2nd grade picture dictionaries. The students have to fill out chart and write entry word, guide, words, and definition.
Get the Main Idea: Had different cards with sentences on it that were out of order. Students need to rewrite the sentences in the correct order finding the main idea.
Math Monsters: Cards are grouped in sets of 25. Each Nine weeks, I put a new set of math problems in the center.
Spelling Connections: Have strips of construction paper in the center. The students write the spelling/reading words each piece and link them together with a stapler. For Higher students, have them put it in ABC order first.
The rest are kind of self explanatory.
Browsing BoxCenter
Directions:
1)Take the box to your desk.
2)Enjoy the books located in the box.
Creative Writing
Directions:
3)Create a story using your vocabulary and spelling words.
4)Be creative by using your imagination!
Remember to write the title of your story and use complete sentences!
Computers
Directions:
1) A. R. should be taken first before completing any other computer activities.
2) Go to the educational game or website instructed by your teacher.
3) Be sure to close any programs you are using before leaving the computer.
CountryExplorationCenter
Name: ______
Date: ______
Directions: Choose two different state maps and compare the information found on both maps. Look at one map at a time!
State 1: ______ / State 2:______Capital: ______
State flower: ______
State tree: ______
State bird: ______
State population: ______
City with largest number of people: ______
Try to draw a picture of the state flag. / Capital: ______
State flower: ______
State tree: ______
State bird: ______
State population: ______
City with largest number of people: ______
Try to draw a picture of the state flag.
Dictionary Detective
Directions:
1) Look at the words that need to be defined.
2) Get a 2nd Grade Picture Dictionary and a dictionary page found in the folder.
3) Write the entry word, guide words, and definitions for at all 8 of the words on the paper.
Get the Main Idea!
Center
Directions:
1) Pick a card found in the center.
2) Read each card and arrange the sentences in the correct order.
*Remember that the main idea or topic sentence always goes FIRST!
Listening Center
Directions:
1) Choose one book at a time.
2) Put the headphones on to avoid distracting other students.
3) Rewind a tape when you are finished listening to it.
4) Place the tape and story book together in the Ziploc bag.
5)Put the headphones back where you found them.
OverheadCenter
Directions:
1) Turn on the overhead machine.
2) Use the magnetic letters to spell spelling words.
3) Turn off the overhead machine when finished.
Journaling Through the Seasons
Directions:
1) Find today’s date in the journal book.
2) Choose one of the two topics and respond to the one that you chose.
*Be creative and remember to write 3 to 5 GOOD sentences that relate to the topic.
Math Monsters
Directions:
1) Choose 5 math cards.
2) Read the cards carefully.
3) Write the number of the problem that you are solving in your folder.
4) Under the numbered problem, solve the math problems on a fresh sheet of paper. SHOW YOUR WORK!
MediaCenter
Directions:
1) Choose someone to write to (mom, dad, friend, cousin, family member)
2) Write them a letter telling them about something or someone.
Examples: vacations, memories, places, or explaining something that is happening or has happened to you.
3) Remember all of the parts of a friendly letter: heading, greeting, comma, body, closing, comma, signature.
PoetryCenter
Directions:
1) Choose a book with poems written in it.
2) In your center folder, write the title of the poem and a set of rhyming words found in the poem.
3) Write 1 or 2 sentences describing what the poem was about and what the poem reminded you of.
Punctuation Café
Directions:
1) Choose 10 sentence strips located at the café table.
2) Edit the sentence strips.
3) Rewrite the sentences in your center folder.
Sentence Construction
Directions:
1) Write at least 5 good sentences using words from your spelling list, vocabulary words, or Dolch 220 list.
*Remember to use WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW if possible!
SpellingConnectionCenter
Directions:
1) Choose 10 spelling words.
2) Work with your partner to put the words in alphabetical order and record the words on a loose leaf paper in your center folder.
3) Write the words on the link construction paper and glue the links together.
Word Work
Directions:
1) Use the magnetic letters and pan to practice spelling words, reading vocabulary, or words from the Dolch 220 list.
2) Have your partner give you practice words to spell on your pan.
They will check your words and make sure you are spelling them correctly.
StickerBookCenter
Directions:
1) Take a pre-made book from the center and put ONE sticker of your choice on each page.
2) After you have put ONE sticker on each page, write 1 to 3 sentences about each sticker.
3) You should have created a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
Write On!
Center
Directions:
1) Pick a card found in the center.
2) In your center folder, write about the topic or finish the topic sentence found on the card. Write at least 3 to 5 sentences responding to the topic.