Courtney Dressler's Literacy Center Ideas

http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/466.html

This teacher's website introduces teachers to a variety of literacy centers that she implements into her classroom on a daily basis.

Literacy Circles: Small groups both read and work together while studying a piece of literature from the series the class is focusing on

Browsing Box: Acting as a connection to reader's workshop, guided reading groups chose familiar texts read during group reading time and share them with the class.

Independent Reading Centers: Student choses a book from class library and completes a book review that is kept in a binder near the library for other students to look at in order to help them determine what they would like to read

Buddy Reading: Two copies of each book, from all level, are organized so that two students can read the book together and then either work as a pair or separately to draw or write about their favorite parts

Writing Folder: Students make their own books and write stories that they want to share with the class. It is encouraged that children be given a "book-like" format so that they feel more like an author. Books may also be "published" using word processor.

Journal Writing: Teacher uses prompt in order to engage teacher in writing activities.

Pocket Chart: Usually done using a pre-planned activity, the class can use sentence strips in order to show their comprehension of a previously read book.

Phonics Center: Phonics techniques are reinforced using literature, games, index cards, etc.

Handwriting Center: Using various materials, students are encouraged to practice making letters

Overhead: Using graphic organizers, graphs, venn diagrams, etc. students are encouraged to present their work and thought processes to their peers.

Sight Word Center: Using rubber stamps, magnetic letters, etc. word manipulation is reinforced in order to help students learn their sight words

Poetry Box: Using individual poetry binders as organizers, both professional and authentic poems are created, edited, illustrated in order to emphasize the importance of poetry.

Listening: Students may either listen to the teacher or a pre-recorded book, followed by some sort of activity to prove comprehension and understanding.

Big Books: Using pointers or other visual aides, kids read the groups either as a whole class or in small groups. Other manipulative can also be used in order to practice certain skills, e.g. pipe cleaners circling sight words.

Computers: "living books" or CD roms can reinforce certain phonics or literacy skills. Students can reflect their new knowledge or feelings of activities in their individual logs.

Stamp a Story: Students use large rubber stamps to create an illustration and provide a logical story to explain their thoughts.

Build a Sentence: After choosing sentence parts out of a bag, students create silly and humorous sentences that are recorded on sentence strips and shared with the class.

Deal a Story: Using many different colored cards, students chose a card that has a subject which to write about.

This website had many different ideas, a lot of which I would have never thought of on my own! Although I have summarized all of the teacher's activities in this blog, I highly encourage you to visit her website and read further about ideas and suggestions that she has for each activity!