Jess's Literacy Center Sites

While searching for different sites about literacy centers I was able to develop a better understanding for what a literacy center entailed, as well as what is to be accomplished. In most of the sites I found overall the ones I found most interesting all included literacy center ideas that engaged the students, activated their prior knowledge, and allowed time for questioning and group work.
One site I found that was particularly helpful was Literacy Center Links K-3. This website gave a long list of sites that can be accessed for a number of examples of literacy centers. Not only did it give a list of informative sites, but it also produced pages on how to manage and organize for a literacy center. I found this to be very helpful, especially for future teachers like ourselves that may not be very familiar with how a literacy center is run. One specific tip for managing a literacy center was found on the link this site provided which was General Literacy Center Information. This link talked about the importance for developing a management board. A management board is interactive for the children (they are able to move their names, and tags to change groups or stations) and tells them where they are suppose to be and who is at each station with them. This seems simple but important. It saves time explaining and placing students in groups. Instead the children feel a sense of responsibility when they are able to look at the management board and direct themselves to their appropriate station. This site lists many other important management tips, as well as examples of literacy center ideas as well.
A site I found very helpful for specific literacy ideas was titled Literacy Centers. This site was specifically geared toward literacy centers using guided reading. It gave a list of 22 sets of literacy stations. While going through each of them I was really interested in how this specific teacher built a set of stations. She covered all basis of learning. She had stations for a spectrum of learners. Art, video, media, reading, writing, and discussions were just a number of stations the students would go to in just one set. I found this to be fun for not only the students but the teacher. Giving students engaging and different types of activities that all relate to one lesson can help the students stay engaged as well as enjoy learning. They will keep enforcing this lesson and not even realize their learning the same thing because its offered in so many different activities.