Literacy Centers in the
Early Childhood Classroom

I think literacy centers are the most important part of the day in the early childhood classroom. I design my weekly "must do" centers based on current reading research which has found that children need instruction and practice in phonological awareness, phonics, comprehension, vocabulary and high frequency words. I plan 5 centers each week that students rotate through and then have other centers they visit after completing the "must do" center each day. The students work literacy centers independently for about 90 minutes per day. During this time I pull students for guided reading. My paraprofessional monitors students during literacy centers. For the first four weeks of school I slowly introduce centers to them adding one a week. After the first six weeks they have four centers too choose from after they finish their planned activity. Students are divided into groups for guided reading and literacy stations.

Sound Station
    At this station students listen to Alpha Tales (Scholastic), play sound games, complete beginning sound wheels, participate in hot dot pen activities, sorting activities, and puzzles. After completing at least four activities, then students draw pictures of the sound they are working on. Instead of completing a worksheet, they have been totally involved with the sound. After completing beginning and ending sounds activities, then this station can be used for word family activities.

Listening Station
    The beginning of reading comprehension begins with listening comprehension. At this station, students listen to a story and then answer a question about the story involving characters, setting and plot. Last year I added a small television to the listening center. I have the students watch a story and answer questions. It keeps the center new and exciting.

Creation Station
    At this station students let their creativity shine through. They respond to the theme we are working on or a piece of literature by creating art work they can share. Illustrating poems with various art media is a favorite activity. My wonderful paraprofessional keeps a large supply of small squares of different colored construction paper for students to use.

Word Work
    At this center students are making words by stamping, writing with different pencils, magic markers, q tips, etc.  They  can also trace words, write words on a magna doodle board or on a dry erase board. They construct sentences, complete a pattern sentence and illustrate, and match words and sentences to pictures.

Guided Reading
    While guided reading is extensively discussed in another page on my web site, it is the most important part of my literacy station time. At this station students complete phonics activities, comprehension activities, print awareness activities and instruction on reading strategies.

ABC Center
     A collection of  review activities such as matching games, making words, stamping  words, lotto games, beginning sound games, mixed up sentences activities, rhyming games, etc.  Frequently I place activities from past weeks in the ABC Center.

Book Boxes
        Books with various genres are all around the room.

Reading Center
       Books related to the current theme along with teddy bears, cushions, and puppets are placed in the center. They must read five books.
 

Pocket Chart Station
        Poems, chants, songs, etc. are placed on two sets of sentence strips (one cut apart) and used to construct sentences. Pocket charts can also be used for matching games.
 

Writing Center
      Students can write words related to the theme or letters to their friends.
 

Puzzles
        Alphabet puzzles are available for students to put together.

Magnetic Board
        Making words activities, matching games, rhyming games, etc. are placed at the magnetic board.

Big Book Center
            Big books related to the current theme are placed in this center. Students must read five books. They can read with a partner or on their own. They can use the pointers found near the big book center. 

Listening Bags
        Students can listen to a thematic book on cd. As the year progresses, there will be response sheets for them to complete after listening to the cd.

Video Center
        Students watch stories or short videos related to the theme and complete a response sheet.

Poem Charts
       Students use pointers to read at least five songs or poem charts.

Computers
        Literacy related programs are placed on computers for students to use.