Literacy Centers

Posted by on August 4, 2011 2 Comments
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Recently I’ve had a few people interested in how I manage my reading group rotation and literacy centers.  This is the chart that I use in my classroom.  I got the idea from a teacher at our school (Cindy) and I love it!  I have used it for 2 years, and it is the best that I have tried.  I’m going to try to explain it the best that I can.  If you have any questions just let me know. 

When I am doing my reading groups, I have the class divided into 3 groups of 6 or 7 students each.  The wheel shows the 3 groups and how they rotate.  I have one group of 6 at their seats doing independent practice activities.  I have another group of 6 students with me at the reading group table.  The remaining 6 students are at a literacy center.  I only have one student in a center to cut down on noise and play.  Some teachers like to have a pair in a center, so you could have only 3 centers.  The blue pocket chart shows my 6 centers: 

1.  Computer
2.  Computer
3.  Listening/Writing Center
4.  SMARTBoard
5. Word Study/Spelling
6. Class Library
 
These centers are represented by the pictures on the left of the pocket chart.  Next to the pictures I have my 3 groups-blue, green, yellow- I only move the picture cards 1 time at the beginning of the reading group time.  Whatever picture that is in front of their name is where they go that day.  Each student only visits one center a day.   It is a little confusing at first, but the students catch on very quickly and after awhile, we don’t even have to turn the wheel. 
 
I always start with yellow group in reading group, then yellow goes to seatwork, then they go to centers.
Green group starts in centers, then comes to me for reading group, then goes to seatwork.
Blue group starts in seatwork, then goes to centers, then comes to see me last.
 
I really hope this makes sense!  Let me know if it doesn’t and I will try again! 🙂
 
 

 

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A SMART Word Wall!

Posted by on August 3, 2011 1 Comment
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A Word Wall on the SMART Board?   I found this notebook on SMART Exchange, and I love this idea!  I thought you might like it too!  When you click on each letter it takes you to another page with a few pictures and words.  I am going to use this in my classroom and add our first grade high frequency words.   Great time-filler resource!  

 

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Who Let the Letters Out?

Posted by on July 25, 2011 Leave a Comment
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Students love to sing, so what better way to learn our letters and sounds than through music!  I created this SMART Notebook activity to use with Dr. Jean’s song, Who Let the Letters Out?  This song is found on her CD, Kiss Your Brain, and it is definitely one of my class favorites every year.  It is sung to the tune of “Who Let the Dogs Out.” There is a page for each letter of the alphabet, so the pages are turned as the song is playing. At the end of the song, there is an activity where the students match pictures to their beginning sounds. I also pass out letters on dog bone cut-outs for the students to hold during the song.  Every child will have 1 or 2 bones depending on how many students are in my class.  When the students hear and see the letter they are holding, they wave their bone in the air.  My students ask to listen to it over and over!  You can also write words that begin with that letter around the doghouse in the sky.  If you don’t have the song, you can still use this Notebook as a teaching tool!

 

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Letter Tiles for Phonics Lessons

Posted by on July 16, 2011 Leave a Comment
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These letter tiles can be used in your SMART Notebook reading lessons! Your students will love using the letter tiles to build words and manipulate sounds on the SMARTboard. Great for phonics lessons!

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