Independent Learning Center Activities

We have covered the side of an old file cabinet with fabric and used magnet hooks to hang a small pocket chart with activities to complete during "down time".  Students select and activity and work quietly at their desk or a quiet area.

Learning Centers

We have two 40-minute segments of our day where students participate in Learning Centers.  Learning Centers are a very important part of our curriculum because it provides students with opportunities to connect to the curriculum in real, meaningful ways.  To learn more about Learning Centers click on the title above.

Literacy Centers:
On Track Spelling, Self-Selected Reading, Guided Reading, Writing Center

Math Centers:
Real World Math Investigations (Problem Solving), Accelerated Math, Write Math, Pocket Centers (Skill Activities created from The Mailbox Magazine)

Poetry Center

At the beginning of the year students are assigned a spiral notebook to use as their "Poetry Notebook".  Poems were downloaded from the Internet on various themes.  Each week students receive a poem (4x5 size) to paste into their Poetry Notebook.  Students then complete activities using their poem.  A pocket chart holds the activities and the pencils indicate which activities students are to complete.

Activities:
1. What is the author's purpose.
2. Underline the rhyming words.
3. Circle the action verbs.
4. Highlight nouns with a crayon.
5. Read your poem to a friend.

 ~ Poetry Page Coming Soon ~

Writing Center

Writing is a big part of our curriculum.  Students have been writing since the first day of school and are now writing on a third or fourth grade level.  Wow!  Students assemble in the Writing Center as part of Literacy Centers and work on their writing projects.  Each group has a colored basket (seen on the middle shelf of the bookcase).  All work remains in a manila folder in the Writing Center.  The colored baskets were purchased from Dollar General for $1.  The Dollar Tree is also a great resource for baskets.  The Writing Center has crayons, glue, markers, pencils, craft scissors, and picture prompts at student's finger tips.  The table was a gift from my father.  He made it with his own two hands.  Antique stores and second hand stores are a great resource if you are in the market for a writing table.  

Reading Nooks

We have lots of areas in the classroom for students to practice their reading skills.  Pillows and soft plush animals were purchased and are supplied for student to use.  Students grab a stuffed animal or a large plush pillow and curl up with their favorite book or their Accelerated Reader book.  They love having opportunities to leave their desk and find a quiet spot to read.

Flower Power

Students will inevitably break the lead on their pencil during the middle of instruction or forget to bring pencils to school.  The Flower Power pot is full of pencils in bloom.  Students retrieve a pencil and at the end of the day return in to the flower pot.  The flower pot was purchased for $1 and the letter are the stick on foam craft letters.  Foam craft shapes are hot glued to the top of the pencil.

Reading Nooks

We have lots of areas in the classroom for students to practice their reading skills.  The big stuffed pillows are a huge hit with the kids.  These pillows were all purchased around Valentine's Day at local retail stores for around $20 each.  We discuss how to take care of them of course.  The ladybug and bee pillows are now 5-years old and are in mint condition.  The kids know it a privilege to use these awesomely fun pillows.

Listening Center

Students participate in the Listening Center during Literacy Centers and also during their "down time'.  Most of the books were purchased on E-bay for around $3-$4 each.  Each book is held in a clear Zip-lock bag along with the cassette tape.  Students love these books and they have been a big hit.  Student favorites include Give A Mouse a Cookie.  Cassette Players were purchased for $5 at Wal-Mart and K-Mart.  

Bean bags were purchased from Wal-Mart a few years back for around $5, but large pillows would be a nice addition to a Listening station.  I have also seen teachers use children's folding chairs, which are adorable.

Listening Center Caddies

Each Cassette Player is numbered and then housed in a shower caddy found at The Dollar Tree.  Each caddy is numbered as well.  Students listening to Books on Tape select a Cassette Player, choose a Book on Tape, and listen in a quiet area of the room.  Listening Response forms are also included in the Listening Center.

Activity Boxes

Students select math, language, writing, and phonics activities from the Activity Boxes, which are completed during Independent Learning Centers. Most of the ideas for Activity Boxes came from resource books, the Mailbox Magazine, or teacher websites.

Activity Pockets

Students select math, language, writing, and phonics activities from the Activity Pockets, which are completed during Independent Learning Centers. Most of the ideas for Activity Pockets came from the Mailbox Magazine or The Teacher's Helper.

Help Board

Students leave messages on the Help Board when the teacher is working in small groups.  This is a great tool to use during Learning Centers.  Students who need assistance write their name and what they need on a sticky note.  When the teacher can break away from the group, he/she can retrieve the message and take care of the student's needs in a quiet, efficient manner without disrupting the learning environment.