Setting Up Literacy Centers

Hey friends!

Today I'm linking up with a couple Freebielicious Friends (Crystal and Tammy) and I so excited. I adore this book and have already used it for a couple years. When we were discussing which book to study this summer, this one stuck out above the rest.

So, let's get straight to it!!

Chapter 1 is a critical chapter -- it's all about MANAGEMENT....time management, behavior management, materials management.... As teachers we know if these things aren't in place - NOTHING constructive is going on during guided reading....or any other time of the day. You cannot skip something as important as establishing routines and expectations in hopes it will "all fall into place" - IT WON'T! You can't speed through those first few weeks "because you got to get to the curriculum". We know that you can have the best curriculum in the world......and it won't matter if the kids aren't accustomed to classroom routines and expectations.

Week 1:
That first week is all about building a community. Have the kiddos practice sharing, working together, and resolving minor conflicts (hopefully there's not too many yet).... You will NEVER be able to conduct meaningful guided reading groups if the others can't work by themselves and with classmates.
Center activities should include: puzzles, math manipulatives, playdough, coloring sheets, blocks. Notice the emphasis here is not on academics, but simply working together. That is the cornerstone of an effective/productive classroom.

*What does that look like?
*What does that sounds like?
*What does that feel like?

All kids need this spelled out for them - and kinder kids even more so. You cannot assume the understand what you mean by share, or use these materials appropriately. Far too often they do not. The need opportunities to practice these vital, yet often over-looked skills. They HAVE to be able to do this in order to work together later on. DO NOT go on until they can carry on like civilized humans. :)

During the first weeks on school, our entire center/guided reading time revolves around doing "table centers". "Table centers" are not literacy based. They are play based....using materials we will use throughout the year.

Take a look at some of my "table centers" HERE. Notice that, by "table centers", I literally mean "table centers". I use buckets of materials (legos, pipes, blocks, unifix cubes, puzzles, etc.) Each table gets a bucket of materials and that is their center. I literally teach, "This is what you can do with the legos. This is what you cannot do with the legos." - SPELL it out for them!

In the beginning I rotate centers every 10 minutes. I physically pick up the bucket of materials and move it to the next table (so kids can see the process of rotating). I'm still doing it at this point - not them. I want them concentrating on using and sharing the materials AND cleaning up the materials. I switch.

Week 2:
Slowly begin to teach a literacy center to one group at a time while other groups are still doing table centers. If you have stationary play centers that you use (like home, blocks, sandtable) start with those first. Other centers like big books, and retelling are some of my last centers to introduce. I want the kids to have multiple opportunities to see how we use the materials for these centers in whole group teaching before they have a "go at it".

Focus on going slow now so you can speed up later. You are laying a critical foundation for the entire year. Teach one literacy center each day to a different group until all groups have learned and practiced the center. So you will introduce 1 to 2 new centers per week. Remember - going slow to speed up later. You won't regret it!


Week 3:
Slowly add in a second or third center. You will have the first center up and running, teaching and practicing the second center. All other groups will still be doing table centers -- still working on sharing, taking turns, etc.

Week 4 and 5:
Continue adding in a center...or perhaps 2 centers per week. Introduce the center management system.


Week 6:
By now, all students are working in a literacy center/workstation. Table centers are a thing of the past! When we are done with table centers, mine go in a cabinet that will become our "inside recess" cabinet during the winter-time. The kids will already know how to use the materials AND they will be excited to use them again come winter-time!

This way of rotating centers is just so easy for me. My students work in pairs to do centers. I find that this really keeps conflicts and playing at a minimum and allows me to concentrate on my guided reading group. So, with the charts above: the kids stay in place and I rotate the center cards down - the bottom right one come to the top left and the cycle continues..... by the middle of the year, my students rotate the cards..... :)

Here are some of the center cards and signs I have for sell if you are looking for some :)

(Bright Bubbles - HERE)

(Polka Dots - HERE)

(Zebra Stripes - HERE)

(Chevrons - HERE)

(Animal Print - HERE)

Another good question is, "What do I do when a student approaches the guided reading table?"

The fact is this goes right back to establishing routines and expectations from the very beginning. If you lay down the ground rules, few young children will try to cross the line. Kindergarten kids in particular are just people pleasers. They want to do the right thing and they want you to be proud of them. Be specific about what they can AND can not do. Model it, role play it. Let the kids know when they can interrupt your group. I use the 3 B's.

They can interrupt my guided reading group if they have a 'B' emergency!
*broken (bones I mean - you never know....)
*bleeding (and no not a scratch....I have to see the blood come out on its own)
*barf (this always sticks in their brains -- you can't continue teaching a guided reading group if you got a "barfer".....eewww!!!! :)

Now kids will forget these rules (especially until they are ingrained).... If one approaches, what do you do? IGNORE!!!!!! Do not talk to that little munchkin! I put my hand up like a stop sign and IGNORE them. If that doesn't work, I pull out the old "pit bull look" ....like I'm going to bite your leg off if you come any closer.......that look usually works for me! :)

Time Management is also a critical piece to using guided reading groups effectively and efficiently. I tend to be long-winded (can you tell?).... I do a couple of things to keep me on target with time.

I use music during guided reading time -- yes where everyone can hear it. And when I have a playlist all set in my computer, it NEVER changes for the whole entire year. Kids quickly learn those songs and can tell when it's almost clean up time. They will be ready to tidy up before you! I always love to use Dr. Jean's Nursery Rhyme CD (about 20 minutes worth) for my center time. It's a great way to practice those nursery rhymes while also helping kids learn how to listen to their internal clocks.

I also use a visu-timer like this one:

Using a visi-timer to helps everyone stay on track and not go over time.... This help kids develop their own sense of time AND they are great at keeping me on time.

YOUR TURN: What tips and tricks do you have for guided reading time?