CentersCenters

The whole point is…The whole point is…

to allow the teacher to to allow the teacher to convene small groups for convene small groups for instruction based on instruction based on students’ needs.students’ needs.

During this time the During this time the teacher can and should be teacher can and should be

doing…doing…•Guided ReadingGuided Reading•Book ClubsBook Clubs

Centers have a purpose…Centers have a purpose…

a time to plan your next lesson, take a time to plan your next lesson, take attendance, attendance,

or organize your desk. or organize your desk.

Centers are not…Centers are not…

which is to free up a block of your which is to free up a block of your time to provide small group time to provide small group instruction to instruction to ALLALL students. students.

Literacy Literacy centers are centers are process process oriented tasks. oriented tasks. It is not It is not necessarily the necessarily the product the product the children create children create that you are that you are interested in.interested in.

How do we define Literacy How do we define Literacy Centers?Centers?

•We use the term Literacy We use the term Literacy Center to refer to a task or Center to refer to a task or activity rather than a specific activity rather than a specific area of the classroom.area of the classroom.

•A literacy center can be A literacy center can be stored in a tub, ziplock bag, stored in a tub, ziplock bag, binder, or any type of binder, or any type of container.container.

Literacy Centers should be Literacy Centers should be meaningful learning meaningful learning

experiences for students.experiences for students.

Management is KeyManagement is Key

• Without proper management, Without proper management, literacy centers can become out-of-literacy centers can become out-of-control, overwhelming, and not a control, overwhelming, and not a good use of class time.good use of class time.

• Establishing a routine and having Establishing a routine and having expectations is what will make expectations is what will make literacy centers successful.literacy centers successful.

Establishing RoutinesEstablishing Routines

• How do students go to centers?How do students go to centers?• Are they in a rotation or is it free Are they in a rotation or is it free

choice?choice?• How many students at each center?How many students at each center?• Do students stay at one center,Do students stay at one center,• or do they change?or do they change?

Procedures continuedProcedures continued

• How do they know when to change?How do they know when to change?• Where do students access center materials Where do students access center materials

and supplies? and supplies? • How do students keep records of their How do students keep records of their

centers?centers?• Where do they put their on-going work or Where do they put their on-going work or

finished work?finished work?• Are there can-do and/or must-doAre there can-do and/or must-do• centers?centers?• Is there a clean up signal?Is there a clean up signal?

Introducing Centers to Introducing Centers to StudentsStudents

• Explain the procedures and purpose Explain the procedures and purpose of each center as introduced.of each center as introduced.

• Continue this process, introducing Continue this process, introducing each center over time.each center over time.

• Label each center clearly, to Label each center clearly, to encourage independent use.encourage independent use.

• Go over care, maintenance, and Go over care, maintenance, and clean-up of each center.clean-up of each center.

• Revisit the process frequently.Revisit the process frequently.

Consider this…Consider this…

Students are ready to begin Students are ready to begin small group instruction when small group instruction when you are able to send all your you are able to send all your students to literacy centers, sit students to literacy centers, sit in the middle of your classroom, in the middle of your classroom, and have no students approach and have no students approach you with questions or problems.you with questions or problems.

Everything you Everything you teach can become a teach can become a

center.center.

Centers can be a Centers can be a great way to add great way to add more writing to more writing to

your students’ day.your students’ day.

Remember…Remember…

All work in centers All work in centers should be practice should be practice and not new skills. and not new skills.

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