Creating centers is probably one of the hardest things to do because you want to make sure the activities are meaningful and effective. You want the kids to be able to complete them on their own so the teacher can work with small groups. At first it was a nightmare for me, but then I developed a system that works and I actually enjoy preparing these centers for the week. My centers are designed to target all aspects of reading (phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, sight word recognition, grammar, and comprehension) while also following the theme of the unit. These centers are also differentiated to challenge and support my learners.
Here's what I do and how my centers look like:
This is the "switcher board" - I assign a student to move the cards down every time the timer goes off (every 15min.). By having a student take care of it, I avoid interruptions while I work with my guided reading groups.
This is my writing center - if you look at the corners of the table, you'll see the instructions taped to the table and they go day-by-day. You will also notice colored dots. Those represent my guided reading groups. The green and red represent "on-grade," so they complete those activities. That's where everybody starts. Next to the blue dot is the "Challenge Yourself" activity - for my "above grade" students or any student that completes the other activities successfully and want a challenge. The yellow dot has easier activities for my struggling learners.
Monday - Trace the shape and write the word family, write a sentence using one of the words
Tuesday - Play the writing game (cards on the table)
Wednesday - Answer the story-related questions in complete sentences in your writing journals
Thursday -Use a picture card (I got pictures out of magazines) and write 3 sentences about it on the chalkboards - the kids love these and I got them at the Dollar Tree!
Friday - Handwriting notebooks (I make my own with paper and highlighters). This is how I can help my students improve their penmanship!
This is what I have written next to the blue dot and yellow dot:
(blue dot) Challenge Yourself! -
* Use 5 of the spelling words and write a story.
* Write a letter to a friend or family member using at least 1 of the words.
(yellow dot) Is the work too hard? That's okay - try this:
* Ask a friend to help you complete the activity.
* Draw a picture of each spelling word.
* Use the words that you know and try to write sentences.
This is my Word Work Center
Once again, I have the daily directions written in the corner of the table. Each day they have a different activity.
Monday - Rainbow words - write the spelling words using different colors
Tuesday - Stairs (for example: clap)
c
cl
cla
clap
Wednesday - Make the spelling words with magnets
Thursday - Make the spelling words with play-doh
Friday - Write sentences using the spelling words
Differentiated section:
Challenge Yourself!
* Get a magazine and try to find the spelling words. If you can't find them, make them using the letters from other words. Draw a picture of each of the words.
* Complete the Word Mat for each of the words. (It asks for sentence, word, picture, antonym, and synonym).
Is the work too hard? That's okay - try this:
* Ask a friend to help you complete the activity.
* Make a list of all the letters you know and draw a picture that starts with that letter.
This is my vocabulary center - the directions are taped on the table.
Here they play games, read books, and complete activities using the weekly vocabulary words that come from the Anchor Text.
This is my Daily Focus Center - Here the kids play games that go along with the grammar skill of the week. The kids also use the iPads when they visit this center.
I forgot to take a picture of my listening center and computer center. These centers are self-explanatory. When they go to computers, they have to visit Imagine Learning because they are all ESOL and that's a requirement. In my listening center I use stories and other listening activities that I have purchased that go along with the skills of the week.
Even though I have directions for each center, these centers are differentiated to meet the students' needs. I also pair them up so the struggling learners get peer support and the high achievers get challenged by having to explain and "teach" the activities to their peers.
Many of the games we use in my classroom I make them. If you like them, please visit my TPT store. : )
