TEACHERS

I am thinking about starting centers in my 2nd grade classrooms. Any ideas on how to begin setting it up? If you have pictures of your classroom with centers that would be appreciated!

Re: TEACHERS

Wondering the same thing. I have a listening center and a reading response center with questions. They pick a number out of a can and that number is the response they use. But I am unsure how to work the rotation and frequency.

Re: TEACHERS

I use a workboard and the symbols from the back of the Fontas & Pinnel book. I only use those because everyone in K & 2 use them as well, so it's good for consistency. I always introduce a center as a whole group lesson. They all do it at the same time so when it goes on the workboard they know what to do. As we do more, the symbol is added to the workboard and the groups are rotated each time we do them. I used to do them everyday, now I am doing them about 3 x's a week. The kids LOVE centers and it's a great time for me to pull a small group of kids to work with. Some centers we do are:

independent/buddy reading
reading response
magnet letters
listening/computer center
art center
ABC order w/ poccket chart
poetry (mix/fix/illustrate)
calendar
writing center
read/write around the room
big books

Re: TEACHERS

We don't do centers in my grade level, but I know teachers of the younger grades who use:

F and P
(covers centers)
and
Diller
HTH!!

Message edited 11/17/2006 7:51:33 PM.

Re: TEACHERS

We do TC choice time in my school.

I don't have centers set up, but more of activities that are away and brought out to be used on the tables or the floor for the different centers.

I have a checklist that I made up to just keep track of where the kids go so that I can encourage them to use all areas throughout the week.

And since it's TC we have to take stupid conference notes --- so if there is a conflict and I help the kids through it I jot it down -- otherwise I don't take notes because we have enough paperwork as it is.

Let me know if you want more info...

Re: TEACHERS

we have to call them work stations...I know of a great site that has them ready made (the activities) all you have to do is print them out

Re: TEACHERS

Re: TEACHERS

Here is the site...we doing reading first at my school and I love this site...just scroll down and see the hundreds of activities they have



Centers

Message edited 11/17/2006 9:09:40 PM.

Re: TEACHERS

I teach first, but I have been doing centers for years. I teach with the literacy collaborative model and I use the centers from the Fountas an Pinell books as well.
My students go to 3 a day, it takes a lot of training, but the rountine now runs nicely.

Here are some of my centers:
Read around the room
Write around the room
Listening Center (with a response sheet)
Word Study (activities with spelling words)
Poetry Center (mix, fix and illustrate)
Handwriting Center
Journal Writing
Math Center
Writing Center (with word banks and shape books)
Art Center (sketching)
Pocket Chart Center (lots of work with names, and targeted phonics principles)

FM me for more details...
ETA: It is a lot of prep to change 15 centers a week, but it really gives me a lot of time to do guided reading. I can read with my groups for at least an hour every morning.

Message edited 11/17/2006 9:12:58 PM.

Re: TEACHERS

When I taught 2nd grade, I used Fountas and Pinnell and my center rotation board looked like this picture. Now that I teach 1st grade I make up 4 centers for the week. I have 4 center groups, so each day they do 1 center (we don't do centers on Mondays) Usually I have a listening center with a follow up, a writing center with a craft, for example this week they had to take a leaf and turn it into a picture then write about their leafy pal. I have an Art center, and depending what we are learning about a center activity that goes along. And sometimes a making words center, this week they had to use the letters in Thanksgiving to make other words. Usually the centers are take back to your seat type work, sometimes the center groups work together in an area in the room. They only do one center a day and when they are finished they go right into writing workshop, I usually have an hour to do guided reading groups in this time...

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Message edited 11/17/2006 9:56:18 PM.

Re: TEACHERS

what great suggestions. thanks