LITERACY CENTERS: A way to spiral the skills! 

In my first grade classroom I have 24 literacy centers. I spend the  first 9 weeks of school teaching my students how to complete each center. Each day from the first day of school, we sit near that specific center and we talk about it, show what to do, show where to sit, show what task to complete and what to bring to their centers. This is very important to set the tone of what it looks like and sounds like at each center. I want my students to whisper at centers, so I model whispering as I am explaining the center. 
For each group of students, they have four centers to choose from each week, and at the beginning of the new week, I switch their group to a different row. This way they are never bored at the same centers. 
Here is my center rotation chart in my classroom: 

Here are some pictures of my literacy centers in my classroom: 

Word Work Center

Theme Center

Author Study

Writing Center

Read and Write the Room

My students are responsible for bringing these items to their centers: Green Center Folder, pencil, crayon box and clipboard. At every center, I have an activity page they need to complete. After they complete their page, they color it and put it in their center folder. Each time they visit a new center, they need to complete their center template. At the end of the month, I collect all their completed center pages, and for each one I give them a bonus buck. Boy, this sure gives them an incentive to complete their pages! They can in turn use their bonus bucks to go to the treasure box. It's so wonderful to see them working hard at centers! Here are some of my center templates:

If you are interested in more of my literacy center templates, please click on the link below: 
Literacy Centers: Templates, Pictures and Activities Grades 1-3

I hope you find these ideas helpful! 
Love,
Kara

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