Literacy centers are an important component in a first grade classroom. In order for me to be able to successfully teach my students in small groups, I need center activities that will allow my students to work independently and that are also engaging, effective, and easy to implement.
Like everything we do in our classroom, center time is not busy work. Literacy centers is a time for fun and meaningful learning for all students that reviews skills and continues to build important reading habits.Throughout our center time, my students rotate through a variety of centers—listening center, read to self (independent reading), word work, writing center, IPads, and meet with the teacher. It truly is one of the favorite parts of our day!
I believe that student choice is important, because it increases motivation. My word work center incorporates a variety of choices that my students can choose to work on independently. It's very important that students can do their word work activities independently, because while I'm working with small groups students aren't allowed to interrupt unless it is an emergency. In case a student forgets how to do a center, I do have a "Center Manager" leadership role as one of our classroom jobs so that students can go to the center manager for help if needed.
Here are some of the activities that we currently have in our word work center!
Alphabet Practice
Even in first grade students need review with identifying, naming, and writing letters. I love giving students fun and hands-on learning opportunities to practice their letters. I don't know about you, but I never got excited about a worksheet. I'd rather do something hands-on, creative and fun! Our students are the same way!
These Giant Dry Erase Traceable Letter Cards are great for letter practice review. Students follow the number guides and trace the dotted lines with Fine Tip Dry Erase Markers to form each letter. Each card is reversible, with the uppercase letter on one side and the lowercase letter on the other side. It's easy to reuse these cards too by changing out the dry erase markers for another tool. For example, we like to use pom-poms, mini erasers, or play dough to form the letters. It's amazing how changing one element of a center makes it feel like new, which keeps my students excited and engaged.
How cool are these Learning Resources Letter Construction letters?!
I absolutely LOVE that my students can build the letters and be able to see how letters are constructed with lines and curves. The cards that come with the letters explain the pieces the students need to create the uppercase and lowercase version of each letter.
Puzzles
I love using puzzles in centers because they are not only fun, but are also great for thinking, problem solving and fine motor development. What I love about these puzzles is that every match has its own unique fit, which makes it self-correcting! I also love that the puzzles include pictures and words, so that students can make sure they are saying the correct word.
These Beginning Sounds Matching Puzzles, Ending Sounds Matching Puzzles, and Rhyming Sounds Matching Puzzles allow students to practice important phonics and phonemic awareness skills that will help them continue growing as readers!
Having opportunities to practice blending and segmenting words is important for our growing readers too!
These First Word Puzzles are great for practicing CVC words, like fox, hen, and cup. There are 24 word puzzles included. While the shapes of the puzzle pieces for each puzzle word is the same, the completed picture allows this to be self-correcting. I also like putting in a fun reading pointer with the center so that students can use it to touch each letter as they say the sound and then blend the word together. For students that need a challenge they can use the back of the puzzles, which has the words only.
Word Building
Practice, practice, practice! That's what our students need when it comes to reading, writing, and understanding words.
These Beginning Sound Word Cards, Short Vowel Word Cards, and Build-A-Word Set Cards are great for students to practice building words in centers.
I really like that each card has a picture along with the word, as well as the answer on the back so that students can self-correct their answers. This really helps my students be independent, which is key to the success of center time. Each word card set comes with chipboard letters that fit the boxes on the cards.
Roll and Math Dice Games
These Roll & Match Dice Games are so much fun as students practice beginning, middle, and ending sounds. I love that each set of dice and cards is color coded based on the skill. This means that I can keep this center out all year long by changing the cards and dice based on the reading skills we are learning.
The dice include individual letters, blends, digraphs, and vowel patterns. Students can work independently because they already know how the game works, but changing the dice and cards keeps it engaging. To play, students roll the die and match the letter to the correct word/picture. Students can write the letter directly on the game board with a dry erase marker since the cards come laminated. So much fun!
We love using these fun, meaningful, and engaging activities at our word work literacy centers!
