Literacy Centers

We are becoming more independent at literacy centers which means guided reading groups will be starting soon. Here are some snapshots of the literacy centers so far.

Write the room: Each week I hide at least 6 words that begin with a certain letter. Students find and write those words as well as look for words on the word wall or look for words in books that also start with that letter.

Writing Center: Each week we make a book to add to our book bag. The book we make always has our new word wall word in it. Then we read the book to a friend.

Listening Center: Each week we will listen to a different story. Right now we recording our favorite part after we hear the story. Later in the year we will record different story elements (characters, setting, beginning, middle, end, etc.)

Library Center: Each week there will be a familiar text in library center and an activity to go with it. Many of the books will have props or puppets for students to use to retell the story. Right now we are comparing different versions of fairy tales. 

Pocket Chart: In the pocket chart there will always be readable sentences using our new word wall word of the week. 

ABC center: Right now we have had a different alphabet book along with an activity to complete each week. Eventually we will be exploring words instead of letters at this center. 

 Poetry Center - We will have a new poem to add to our poetry folder each week. Poetry helps with reading fluency. We also have all of the poems enlarged in the poetry center for the students to read with a pointer.  We keep a large copy of the ABC letter/sound chart in there as well. Their poetry folder will come home at the end of the year.

Word Work - We will explore words and sentences in the word work center. Right now we are using mystery paint to write our color words. We write the words with a white crayon then paint over it with water color to make the word appear. 

Computers - Right now at computers we are exploring starfall.com. It is a free website that has letter and book activities.  Please feel free to check it out at home. Later in the year we will be on the RAZ kids reading program that our principal has purchased for our classroom.