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Reading center ideas
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Re: Reading center ideas
[ Edited ]
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 ruth.manna
Moderator
Posts: 1104
Reply 3 of 9
Viewed 10331 times
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Hi,
I agree with Enid that you might want to consider broadening what your students are doing while you're teaching reading. Now that they can write, you could make simple blank books for them out of copy paper with construction paper covers. If you set up a book-writing area students could create books on their own. You mentioned that your students are learning sight words. There are additional games for sight words like Concentration, Bingo, etc. They also might enjoy math activities like making patterns with pattern blocks.
You could pull your reading groups together during "choice time." In my school kindergarteners have "choice" for one hour a day. The choice activities are things like Lego bricks, blocks, computers, and art. While the students are occupied in activities, rather than academics, the kindergarten teacher meets with reading groups.
What can happen with young children when they're asked to work independently on academics is they quickly finish their work and interrupt your reading group with, "Now what do I do?" Giving them more leeway to make choices might work.Message Edited by ruth.manna on 03-01-2007 08:16 PM
Ruth
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03-01-2007 08:15 PM
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Re: Reading center ideas
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KatieEnsell
Visitor
Posts: 53
Reply 8 of 9
Viewed 10269 times
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When I went through school, I learned a lot about Centers and Guided Reading. The best way to do it, or so they taught, is to do a workboard. This means breaking the students into small groups. Next, put up a board with the groups listed and then underneath put pictures of different stations (science, math, games, blocks, kitchen, drama, read around the room, phonics, etc.). The number of centers can vary based on time and student ability. Some kids will spend a half hour easily on the computer, but 5 minutes on read around the room. You have to put centers together for a group so that all groups are about even as far as time.
Once you have this routine established with your class, you can pull out your reading groups to the back of the class and work with them while keeping an eye on the class.
This way, you are not planning centers for two times a day.
The best resource is Fountas and Pinnell for ideas on Guided Reading, Workboards, and Centers. There are a lot of their ideas on Scholastic, and many books on ebay. I would even try the library. "Guiding Readers and Writers" is a really good book. The workboard is a really good tool for managing centers time as well as making sure that the centers get completed. I even give the kids a sheet with the different centers they have to do over the week so that they can keep track of what they have done and need to do.
I know that this is a messy way of explaining it, but give Fountas and Pinnell a try!
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03-06-2007 09:36 PM
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Re: Reading center ideas
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ruth.manna
Moderator
Posts: 1104
Reply 7 of 9
Viewed 10301 times
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Hi,
I thought of something else:
What about a science observation station?
For example, you'd select something to be observed - shells, rocks, magnets, class pet, seeds, potted plant, etc. and arrange on a small table with pencils, paper, clipboards, magnifying glass, etc. To make the station even more special you could put out small aprons or lab coats if you have those in your housekeeping area.
Introduce the station by talking about what scientists do, that is, observe. Then let your budding scientists have a go!
Again this is an ongoing, independent activity that's relatively easy to refresh and doesn't require constant supervision.
In my state, MA, teaching observation skills is one of the state standards, so you're likely addressing standards with an observation station.
Good luck and let me know if you need more ideas! 
Ruth
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03-04-2007 05:38 AM
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