Literacy Centers

My literacy centers fills in my Daily 5, but with a personal touch.
The personal touch is that the students "transform" or become the role.

1. Book Worms= Independent Reading
     Students choose items to read from their group's color box.
          - books from Guided Reading (familiar books)
          - Nursery Rhyme books/poems
          - sight word books
          - sentence pages (that correlate with my sight word program

2. Storytellers= Partner Reading
     Students choose items to read to their partner from a shared container.
          - picture books (read the pictures)
          - sight word books (switch out ones according to the ones we are studying in my program)
          - sight word sentences/poems
          - posters
          - listening center

3. Super Writers= Writing Center for superheros (goes with how I teach the concepts of writing).
     Their is an entire writing center filled with writing supplies:
         - chairs have pockets on them. The pockets are labeled. In the pocket is the student helper
           writing binder. (Contains: letter formation, sight word folder, idea topics, superhero check off)
         - Writing/coloring utensils
         - Lots of paper for writing: scrap paper, postcards, letters, story pages (variety), pre made
              books, random handwriting pages
         - Word Wall and Sample Writing Wall (or hanging)
         - Superhero posters/Check Off
         - personal grading sheet for turn in

4.  Word Detectives= Word Work
      - sight word hunt  (use glasses)
      - book hunts (for the word/letter assigned) - use magnifying glasses and recording sheet
      - build sight words
      - Search and Find (Hands on activity) - sensory
      -  Any other word work
      - Spelling

Alphabet Order

The order in which I feel is best to teach the alphabet:

Sounds are at end of letter name
L
F
X
N
M
R
S

Sounds are at the beginning of letter name:
Z
T
V
K
P
B
D
J

Difficult Sounds
H
O
I
A
U
Y
W
C
G
Q

Teach Sight Words

Lesson
Display the sight word.
Point to the word as you say it.
Have a student come up with an action to do when they read their sight word flashcards.
Use the sight word in a few sentences - emphasize the sight word. (say it a tad louder)
Have a couple students share a sentence using the sight word.
Have all the students share a sentence using the sight word with a partner.
Tell the students to take a mental picture of the word.
    (Have them use their hands and hold a pretend camera to grab attention.)
Powerpoint practice with missing letter.  (or just do this with writing on the white board)
    Powerpoint displays the word. When the students close their eyes, you switch the slide.
    The sight word is not missing a letter. Have the students shout out the missing letter. Have a 
    student write in the missing letter.
   Repeat with different missing letters until the only thing left is to have the students spell the entire  word.
 Identify the word in sentences when you are doing shared/guided reading and in anything else.

Independent Student Practice
Word Hunt (Write the room)
Word stick: walk around with the stick and place it on something and use the sight word in connection. (THE table, THE phone / HE is my friend., HE is wearing red.)
Build the word: Using stamps, magnetic letters, letters squares.)
Heidi Songs Worksheets

End of the day and homework
Read the sight word book that they will be reading at homework as homework.
Sight Word Books (I have 4 units on Teacherspayteachers.com)
High Fives on the way out. Students give the word (the sight word you learned) a high five on the way out the door while reading the word.

Mother's Day/Father's Day

Mother's Day

Keepsake Book about/for moms
Ask for a picture of child and mom to be sent in - not to be returned. (It will be put in their keepsake book.)  If they don't bring one in, they are to draw a picture of themselves with their mom.

Gift Ideas
Tile with painted hand-print = seal with spray
Flower plant from our plant unit
Hand-print in ceramic (put the mixture in a small plate and place hand in... let dry - paint hand print)

Father's Day

Easter

Bunny Bag - fill with treats (taffy) or left over food from 100 Day snack.

Easter Egg Hunt with math facts inside. Answer them and get jelly beans.

Other Christmas Fun Ideas

Math
2d vs 3d shapes
Shapes and teen numbers (could even do a pattern with this)
2d Shape tree (I use as part of my Christmas Around the World unit too)
Santa numbers beard (color the correct # a certain color)

Writing
Brainstorm Writing Needs and Wants
Writing letter to Santa (I've been good. I want...)


Reading
Reindeer, Reindeer What Do You See? book

Christmas Around the World

Traveling Around the World

America
Italy
France
Germany
Sweden
England
Israel

Before or Extra Preparation (requires some work) - great for parent volunteers:
Get brown paper bags from the store
Stocking holes (once the kids cut out their stockings) or have someone cut out stockings prior
Once shoes are colored - shoes need to be folded, cut out and stapled
Cut out holly leaves and crown strips (for St. Lucia hats)
St. Lucia frames cut and ready
Star of David Ornament (glue together)
Gingerbread Houses (glue together)
Pre-cut paper ornaments