Happy Sunday friends!! I know that many of you have the week off for Thanksgiving, lucky ducks! We have to go through Wednesday, so we are patiently waiting to go into vacation mode 🙂
Today, I wanted to share with you how I differentiate my literacy centers and run them in my room. For a long time, literacy centers were not my friend! I hated prepping them and the kiddos would run through them so fast and be bored because the centers could really only be used once. Then, once the kiddos had done them, I would have to cycle another center through. Oh the prep! No thanks!! That all changed when I went to a professional development with Margo Southall. Her differentiated center ideas changed my whole classroom! I’m excited to share it with you!
I have three centers: comprehension, fluency and work work. I keep them in dishwashing tubs that I got at Walmart! I really like the size on the tubs. I can move them around to different spots in my room pretty easily and they fit in all the components of the center.
Let’s take a look at each center.
Every Monday, I give my students a spelling pre-test. The tests tiered. It starts with easier words that fit our pattern for the week and then get progressively difficult. I have three separate spelling lists, that increase in difficulty, and depending on how they do on the pretest determines which list they get. This station will stay the same the entire year and they will keep doing the same activities with their current lists. I have smelly markers, stamps, colored pencils and different spelling activity cards that I got from Amy Lemons (get them HERE) that they can choose from. They do all their work in their reading spiral and keep it in their folders so I can check them.
The students have a menu where they write their center for the day. They start at a center that I assign, and rotate daily. They complete the center and write what they did on this menu. Then if there is still time, they can move to a center of their choice.
We have an hour a day for our reading groups. I don’t like having students trying to do their read to self time when there are other students on centers. I feel like it’s too distracting. So, I break my hour into three chunks. Students are working on the same thing at the same time which helps to minimize distractions and off task behaviors.
This is what I put on the board while they are working. I have students names listed under each center. I rotate these each day so they they are at least completing one of each center a week, almost twice a week. But, for most of my students, they get done with at least two centers a day. I also have students who like to do all three centers in one day, so when we move onto partner reading, iPads and computers, they can choose to keep working on their center.
Finally, in each folder I put a sticky note. This tells the student what level of fluency phrases or poem they should be working on and what level of quick read. This helps to ensure that they are working at their independent level.
So there you have it! While it seems like a lot, once you have everything organized, they really run themselves. You also get a lot of engagement because the students aren’t getting frustrated with work that is too hard or too easy. They have a little bit of choice at each center and that also helps to keep students engaged.
I hope that you find this helpful in your classroom as well! You will be amazed at the amount of learning, focus and engagement you will get from your students when you differentiate their centers!
I hope you all have a fabulous week and Thanksgiving break!!
Author
Where do you get the expression cards?
Author
Hi Lori! I got these expression cards from Margo Southall's book, Differentiated Literacy Centers. It's a great book! Great resource for differentiating centers.
Have a great day!
Lindsey:)
Author
Where do you get the leveled poems? By the way, I love this post. I'm planning to incorporate some of these ideas into our literacy centers.
Author
Hi Jennifer! The poems that I use aren't leveled to a specific level. I just search Pinterest and find a variety. Most of the poems that I use are freebies. There are so many great links on Pinterest, so check there. The leveled passages that we use are leveled according to Fountas and Pinnell. Those you can find in our Teachers Pay Teachers store, 2 Literacy Teachers.
Good luck! I love these centers and they have totally changed my reading block. I hope they work out great for you!! 🙂
Thanks!
Lindsey:)
Author
Where did you get your phrases, or did you just copy examples from leveled texts? Would you be able to show some examples? I am loving the way the centers cover what is truly important and aren't just another busy activity. Thanks for your wonderful ideas!
Author
Hello:)
These phrases are the Fry phrases. I just typed them into a table. Then copied and sliced and ringed them in the corner. Easy! These centers have been a life saver and they are SO easy to manage. I'm glad these ideas are helpful!
I hope you're having a great summer!
Lindsey 🙂
2 Literacy Teachers
Author
Is there a way to get a copy of your literacy center schedule?
Author
Hello:)
I don't have a written copy of my schedule. We have three 20 minute rotations. The class is divided into three groups. The groups rotate through the centers, one per day. They also read to self and complete a readers response for one of the rotations and partner read or use technology for the third rotation. I can share with you a copy of the menu I use,if that's helpful. 🙂 Let me know if you have anymore questions!!
Here's the menu: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B-_Ch49VXqdFb1ZMdEp2ejMxZm8
Thanks!
Lindsey
2 Literacy Teachers
Author
I was wondering on your board when you have the students names displayed are they grouped by their reading level? Thanks for all of this! This is going to change my reading block so much for my first graders!
Author
Hello! I actually have mixed levels within the groups. I do that so that they aren’t all using the same materials, so I don’t need to provide as many copies, and so that they can help each other. I find that having higher levels mixed with lower levels allows them to work together and help each other a little more. I’m so glad you find it useful!!!
Have a great day!
Lindsey 🙂
Author
Hi Lindsay,
I am so glad I found your blog and am excited about incorporating a lot of your ideas. I do have a quick question about your daily schedule. I'm just wondering when you do guided reading? Do you do guided reading during these times as well or another part of your day? And if you do guided reading at another time, what kinds of activities do your students do when you are with the small group? Thanks, Lindsay
Author
Hi Lindsay!
Yes, I do an hour of guided reading during this time. We have a lot of reading support at our school so my kiddos are going in and out to different groups as well as to my own groups. I also hold a 20 minute group first thing in the morning. All of my other students are doing an entry task, which is currently a different writing prompt each day. Hope that helps!
Thanks!
Lindsey 🙂
Author
Perfect! That makes a lot of sense. Thank you!
Author
I’m so glad you shared this I often feel as if I just am not good at teaching and when I saw I’m doing the right things just need to tweak it I was proud.
Author
Aw! Thank you! I think every teacher feels that way! I sure do! This just works well for my kiddos and when you see the growth you know you’re doing something right. Keep on being you and doing what works for your kiddos!
Thanks!
Lindsey:)
Author
I am thinking about running my literacy centers like you. What I am wondering is if you also do small reading groups at the same time and if so how do you plug those in as the kids works at their centers?
Author
Hello! I was wondering where you got your retell questions from? I have some of those cubes and would love to use that in a center.