Here is a synopsis of the first six weeks to set up Literacy Centers in the K-2 classroom. This is excerpted and adapted from The Next Step in Guided Reading by Jan Richardson and More Primary Literacy Centers by Susan Nations and Mellissa Alonso.
Week 1: Building Community and Collaboration
Have students work in small groups or teams at tables or a specified place on the floor doing activities they can manage with little direction from you.
• Plan a variety of engaging small group activities: puzzles, manipulatives, clay, coloring books, Legos, blocks, or simple art projects. Put each activity into a separate tub and give one to each group.
• Set the timer for 10 minutes.
• Observe the teams and see how they interact with each other. Try not to interact with them at this time.
• When the timer goes off, clean up and bring students together to a gathering place. Praise them for working together and solving problems.
Each day of week 1, redistribute the tubs so that teams can practice working together on a different activity.
Week 2: Begin Teaching Literacy Centers
• Begin teaching ONE Literacy Center this week. Consider starting with the Classroom Library so students really learn that it is the HUB of your center activities. Only teach one team per day. The others can work with tub activities from the previous week.
o Use some of the same activities from week 1: puzzles, manipulatives, clay, coloring books, Legos, blocks, or simple art projects. Put each activity into a separate tub and give one to all but one group.
o Set the timer for 10 minutes.
o Pull one team to the Literacy Center and demonstrate all aspects of it while you are there. Allow them to practice while you observe and coach.
• When you teach a new center: set a purpose for it, identify the materials that will be used, talk about what successful use should look like and what it should sound like, role play use, practice putting materials away.
• On each consecutive day, teach another group the Literacy Center until all groups have been taught how to use it.
Determine a signal for clean-up time like a song or a bell. Make sure to give them a five-minute warning.
Week 3: Expand Time and Teach Another Center
• Teach a new Literacy Center this week. Consider adding a Writing Center this week. Expand your time to 15 minutes daily.
o Use some of the same activities from weeks 1 & 2: puzzles, manipulatives, clay, interesting picture books, coloring books, Legos, blocks, or simple art projects.
o Set the timer for 15 minutes.
o Put one team at the familiar center (introduced in week 2).
o Pull another team to the NEW Literacy Center and demonstrate it. Allow them to practice while you observe and coach.
On each consecutive day, teach another group the NEW Literacy Center and allow another group to PRACTICE the familiar center while everyone else works with tubs.
Week 4: Teach a Center and Expand Time
• Teach another NEW Literacy Center this week. Consider adding Word Work this week. Directly teach one team per day. The others can work with tub activities or the TWO familiar centers.
o If you have five groups, allow two to do tubs and two to do familiar centers while you teach one group a NEW center.
o Set the timer for 20 minutes.
o Remember to make your centers open-ended so that students are never really “done” with them.
• Begin using a Center Management board this week. Show students how to find their name and where their group will be during this 20 minute session.
Week 5: Expand Time and Develop Independence
• Expand to 25-30 minutes. Continue to assess, adjust, and clarify expectations at the centers during this time. Add two NEW Literacy Centers this week. Consider adding Listening and Poetry (with Read the Room).
o Teach BOTH centers to ONE group per day (10 – 15 mins. per center)
o Set the timer for 25-30 minutes.
o Remember to make your centers open-ended so that students are never really “done” with them.
Begin using a Center Management board this week. Show students how to find their name and where their group will be during this 20 minute session.
Week 6: Introduce Guided Reading Groups
• Show the center management chart. Remind students that they know how to work in and complete each of their centers.
• Hold a class meeting explaining Guided Reading procedures:
• Remind students they should NOT interrupt a guided reading group.
• Designate a few “knowledgeable” students as your “center captains”. Give them a clothes pin or necklace to identify their role. Students may ask center captains questions while you are teaching.
• Pull ONE Guided Reading group daily.
• Make sure if a student comes to ask you a question, that you do not acknowledge them. Hold up your hand and continue to teach.
• Be sure students know WHEN it IS appropriate to interrupt: i.e., fire, blood, someone is sick, etc.
At the end of each session remember to gather together and discuss what went well and what needs work.
Gradually increase the time to a full 60 minutes allowing you to work with 2 – 3 groups daily.
