Reading Lesson Plans & Comprehension - Literacy Centers

Literacy Center Basics

I use Literacy Centers for my students to work independently while I pull guided reading groups. I start with everyone reading books while I monitor and model behavior and then I add centers to that until I have about 10. Once introduced, the kids are very good at working without help. Sometimes I have a center which needs an adult and for that I use parent helpers.

Centers include listening, overhead projector, music, poetry, read around the room, writing, Big Books, post office, computer, alphabet and word wall. The kids learn that during literacy centers you are to be reading and writing, other centers are available at a different part of our day. I don't limit a center to a certain amount of students and seldom have any problems with that.

Occasionally we may be short on supplies or room and we just find a way to make it work (which may include go do something else until there is a spot for you) Sometimes I may require a certain center but usually I don't. As long as they are reading and writing during this time. Now and then I use a checklist where they have to mark what they have done to hold them accountable but then I find that they are working just to finish things and aren't really doing quality work. I'm going to go back to not using a checklist this year and see if I can get them to where they really get involved with their work. Once I go to the checklist it takes a long time to break them of the habits it forms.
Submitted by: Debbie